Feature, June 7, 2007
We went through that little house three, four times. Byers did a poor job of hiding things. His kids were playing ping-pong on a table that was sitting on top of six stolen Oriental rugs. I found a painting that appeared to be a Monet behind the furnace where most folks would keep extra furnace filters. There were so many cops conducting the search that we made an order for twenty burgers, fries and Cokes from Steak n Shake to feed everyone. The city cops were seizing anything and everything, including cheap clock radios and the kids' $150 Sound Design stereo under the theory that everything was probably stolen. We took everything with a serial number expect the refrigerator. Later, Byers sued to get his everyday items back and they were returned.
The FBI was there during the search but served more as an observer and didn't do any of the heavy lifting. In those days, the rule of thumb among cops was that the FBI was not your friend. Just like on television, the bureau was famous for not telling you anything and then taking credit for work you'd done.
There was, however, one FBI connection with Byers and Rock Hill police. The FBI occasionally would stake out Byers' house. Byers and his wife would see them and call us to report a suspicious car in the neighborhood. We'd respond, only to rustle up an FBI agent. After a couple of these calls, a note was placed on the dispatcher's desk not to dispatch any suspicious auto calls on Byers' street. John Hoffmann, Town and Country
RFT Music Showcase, May 31, 2007
These don't go to eleven: Please spend some time making sure that the sound equipment is in working order before a band takes the stage! I came to see the Vultures and was terribly disappointed when the microphones went out every two or three minutes. The band had to stop playing three or four times because of equipment failure. RFT folks in blue shirts tried to correct the problem, but it was too late! I don't blame the band for walking off the stage. Please look into this problem before next year. The Vultures were sorely missed this year!
Bridget Koenig, St. Louis
Feature, May 3, 2007
I'm working on a book for emotionally abused but otherwise intelligent women who find themselves conned by men like Lionel Sands. I feel fortunate that in my case the abuse was psychological and not physical or fatal, but that may have been only because he had not disintegrated yet. Susan B. Schenk, Wilsonville, Oregon
Erratum
Kristen Hinman's May 24 news story, "Irons in the Fire (Again)," incorrectly stated that the St. Louis Board of Education had voted in March to reinstate ousted Vashon High School basketball coach Floyd Irons. The school board had voted only to reinstate Irons' eligibility to coach in the St. Louis Public Schools.