Workers at the Chrysler plant are putting in their last day before their Christmas break. But when the break is over, about 1,100 of them will not be going back to work. Chrysler is stopping one of the two assembly lines at the Fenton minivan plant at the end of the year. Chrysler has made no commitment to calling back the laid-off workers although they can continue collecting most of their pay and benefits for as much as three years.
Devlin Sentenced to 170 Years in Federal Prison
December 21, 2007 By
Michael Devlin has now been sentenced to 170 years in federal prison. Devlin heard his sentence handed down in federal court in St. Louis today. He had been convicted of child pornography and for transporting a minor across state lines for sex earlier. This is likely Devlin’s last court appearance in Missouri. His appearances in state courtrooms in October resulted in 74 life prison sentences on charges that he kidnapped and sexually molested two eastern Missouri boys.
The State Corrections Department is considering what to do with him and might send him to another state to serve his prison sentences. There are questions about Devlin’s safety if he goes to a Missouri prison. The parents of Shawn Hornbeck, the teen-ager held by Devlin for more than four years, tells the St. Louis Post Dispatch that they want him held in a Missouri prison. In fact, they want him held at the Potosi prison, only 25 miles from their home.
Shawn’s stepfather, Craig Akers, tells the Post Dispatch, "We want to keep tabs on him."
Both Hornbeck and Ben Ownby were rescued from Devlin’s Kirkwood apartment in January. Devlin has been incarcerated at a prison reception and diagnostic center in St. Joseph since October. Corrections officials say it will take as many as 20 days to determine where to send Devlin permanently.
Rams Bow to Steelers 41-24 as Faulk Honored
December 21, 2007 By
In the 2007 Edward Jones Dome finale of what can charitably be described as a disappointing 2007 season for the St. Louis Rams, the team remembered the glory days that followed the franchise’s move from Los Angeles to St. Louis. At halftime of the Rams-Pittsburgh Steelers tilt Thursday night, future Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk was honored as the team retired his number 28. It was Faulk’s first return to the Dome since his retirement. He is now part of the NFL Network’s broadcast crew.
Like the Rams-Green Bay Packers game under the Dome the pervious Sunday, it appeared and sounded at times as though there were more fans of the visiting team in the stands than there were supporters of the Rams. Many of the 65,705 in attendance even brought their "terrible towels!" And, as was the case the previous Sunday, the visiting team came out on top. Final score: Pittsburgh 41, St. Louis 24.
Pittsburgh struck first on the opening drive as Ben Roethlisberger connected with Nate Washington on a 17 yard pass to complete a 4 play, 96 yard scoring drive. Jeff Reed’s extra point made it Pittsburgh 7, St. Louis 0.
St. Louis came right back as Marc Bulger tossed a 12 yard touchdown pass to Steven Jackson to cap a 6 play, 59 yard drive. Jeff Wilkins’ PAT made tied the score at 7.
The 1st quarter ended with the score tied at a touchdown apiece, but the Steelers scored on the first play of the 2nd quarter as Reed nailed a 21 yard field goal to end a 13 play, 69 yard drive, making the score Pittsburgh 10, St. Louis 7.
The Rams came storming back, putting together a 4 play, 50 yard touchdown drive that ended with Bulger firing a 12 yard TD pass to Isaac Bruce. Wilkins’ PAT put the Rams on top 14-10.
Time for the Steelers to bounce back, and they did, scoring a major on Nate Washington’s second touchdown reception of the night as he snagged a 33 yard pass from Roethlisberger to cap a 5 play, 65 yard drive. Reed’s conversion made it Steelers 17, Rams 14.
And, the Steelers scored again on their next possession, a 12 yard pass from Roethlisberger to Najeh Davenport to cap a 10 play, 78 yard drive. Reed’s extra point made it Pittsburgh 24, St. Louis 10.
The Rams would manage another score before the end of the 1st half. Wilkins sliced the uprights from 52 yards out to put the finishing touches on a 6 play, 46 yard drive, making the score Pittsburgh 24, St. Louis 17 at the half.
Halftime saw the unfurling of Marshall Faulk’s now retired Number 28 from the rafters of the Dome. The moment was the climax to a brief ceremony, hosted by Bob Costas, that featured video clips of Faulk’s former teammates and opponents who sent congratulatory messages. Members of the Rams front office and Commissioner Roger Goodell stood alongside Faulk during the ceremony. Faulk thanked his former teammates and the fans of St. Louis for the honor. Then it was time to get back to the game.
On Pittsburgh’s first possession of the 2nd half, the Steelers went 69 yards on 10 plays, with Davenport scoring on a 1 yard run for his second touchdown of the night. Reed’s PAT made it Steelers 31, Rams 17.
The Rams weren’t about to throw in the towel – terrible or otherwise. They responded with an 11 play, 81 yard scoring drive that ended with a 23 yard TD pass from Bulger to Drew Bennett. The Wilkins extra point attempt was good and the Steelers lead was cut to 31-24.
Pittsburgh gave itself some breathing room as Reed booted a 29 yard field goal to put points on the end of a 13 play, 69 yard drive, making the score Steelers 34, Rams 24.
The Steelers put it away on the next series of St. Louis downs. Ike Taylor picked off a Bulger 4th down pass and returned it 51 yards to the endzone. Reed’s point after made it Pittsburgh 41, St. Louis 24. That’s how it ended.
On a positive note, Rams wide receiver Isaac Bruce caught 7 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown, moving into third place on the NFL’s all-time receiving yards list. Bruce now has 14,070 – moving ahead of James Lofton with 14,004.
The Rams (3-12) wrap up the season Sunday, December 30th, against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Arizona.
Download/Listen: Rams Coach Scott Linehan post-game comments (3:00 MP3)
