LOCAL NEWS DIGEST

Car dealer bilked

BOARDMAN — A car dealership told police that the business has been bilked out of at least $600,000 by a former employee.

A representative of LF Donnell Inc., which operates the Honda Store, Boardman-Canfield Road, reported the employee, who was hired in 1998, has been taking money since at least September 2006.

No charges have been filed.

The employee suspected of taking money resigned last March. A police report filed by the dealership last week says that the employee would write loan checks to herself, write a phony receipt and credit her own account instead of the money going into the company’s account.

The former employee also would take cash from a day’s business transactions, the report said, write a check against the amount, take the deposit to the bank and pull the check before making the deposit.

Tourism award

GREENVILLE, Pa.— The Jubelirer Family, owners of Reyers Shoes in Sharon, Pa., have been selected to receive the 2009 Bill Knecht Tourism Award tonight.

The award is named after Bill Knecht of Poland, Ohio, the late CEO of Wendell August Forge in Grove City, and honors individuals who have made significant contributions to tourism and the vitality of the Mercer County area. The award is part of the VisitMercerCountyPA annual dinner meeting at The Gallery Grille and is the agency’s highest honor that recognizes an outstanding Mercer County tourism advocate.

Led by Mark and Stephen Jubelirer, Reyers Shoes has been in operation since 1885 and owned by the Jubelirer family since 1954. The Jubelirer family has grown the store from a simple beginning to a 36,000-square-foot facility, making it the single largest shoe store under one roof anywhere. In addition, the family has been active in the promotion of tourism to Mercer County. Mark Jubelirer has had various positions on the VisitMercerCountyPA board of directors and is currently past president and head of the marketing committee.

Warren man attacked

WARREN — A city man was attacked after his car was rear-ended.

The victim told police he was driving east on Dana Avenue Northeast just before 7 p.m. Saturday when an older-model blue car struck his vehicle from behind. He said when he got out of the car to check for damage, a teenage boy got out of the second vehicle and struck the victim in the back of the head, knocking him to the ground.

The suspect then began cutting the victim’s face with an unidentified object, according to police reports. The victim said he was cut several times on the left arm while trying to defend himself. He said the suspect grabbed his wallet, which contained his identification and an unknown amount of money, and fled.

Food distribution

AUSTINTOWN — Smith Corners United Methodist Church, 3000 S. Canfield-Niles Road, invites the public to order food through Great Food For All, a nondemoninational service that provides grocery relief through a monthly food distribution. The deadline for ordering food for the July 11 distribution is June 29. The church is open for orders from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to noon Monday and June 22 and 29; and 6 to 7 p.m. June 17 and 24. Payment may be made in cash, cashier’s check or money order. The basic food box is $30. For more information, call the church (330) 799-9390.