Tag Archives: Brea

“Sorry, We Are No Longer In Business”

PennySaver abruptly closes its doors after 53 years

The iconic PennySaver

The iconic PennySaver

Staff Reports

Brea – On Friday evening, May 22, employees of the PennySaver in Brea, California, received quite a shock after a full week of business as usual and looking forward to a long Memorial weekend.  Reportedly hundreds of employees were laid off – without notice – after they had met the deadlines on their very last issue.  Some left under security; all read the crudely written signs placed on the gates and front doors that read, “CLOSED.  Sorry, we are no longer in business.”

PennySaver employee, Luann Benton, told CBS Los Angeles, “I’ve been with the company for over 30 years and everything is a complete shock.  We had no idea the company was going to shut down…”

A mailbox stable for more than 50 years, the iconic periodical leaflet was the go-to for whatever you happened to be in the market for.

The PennySaver was founded in Huntington Beach in 1962, and presented itself as “Champion of the little guy, trying to level the playing field for small businesses through print and online classifieds and coupons that are tailored to a specific targeted local community.”

PennySaver CEO, Ronald Myers, reportedly issued a statement stating empathy for his employees during this difficult time.

“PennySaver did everything possible to try to stay in business and was in the process of pursuing a number of alternatives when our lender unexpectedly ceased our funding late Friday evening. Without any funding the company was forced to immediately cease operations,” Myers said in a statement to CBS.

Although employees received no notice and little – if any – explanation, the PennySaver has not heard the last from them. Labor laws will be called into question as they wait for answers to questions posed at a post-layoff meeting held at the Brea headquarters on Tues., May 26.  Executives reportedly stated that employees would not be receiving final paychecks or benefits.  The office of California’s Labor Commissioner is said to be looking into the situation.

 

Placentia: Placentia Teacher Arrested

STAFF REPORTS

Placentia-teacher-rebecca-eileen-diebolt

Rebecca Eileen Diebolt (Photo Courtesy: Placentia Police Department)

Placentia – An illegal relationship with a female student has come to light, and authorities think it may not be the only one for a Valencia High School teacher.

 

Rebecca Eileen Diebolt, 35, a resident of Brea, was arrested Wed., June 11, on suspicion of sexual contact with a minor. According to reports, a woman has recently come forward stating that as a 15-year old student, she began a relationship with Diebolt that started in 2004 and continued until 2008. At the time, Diebolt was the student’s language arts teacher and water polo coach. Diebolt allegedly had sexual encounters with the student in her classroom and at her home over the course of four years.

 

There is no information available as to why the student came forward at this time, prompting the investigation into the teacher. Diebolt is reportedly married and expecting.

 

Diebolt, who has been a teacher at Valencia High School since 2003, was booked into the Orange County Jail system, on $100,000 bail. The Placentia Police Department is reportedly searching for additional victims.

 

Individuals with information regarding this case, or who believe they are victims, are asked to contact the Placentia Police Department detectives at (714) 993-8146.