Published: October 13, 2009 11:24 pm      

In brief: Bolivar deaths appear to be homicide-suicide

BOLIVAR — State police are investigating a homicide-suicide that took place sometime between Sunday morning and Wednesday morning at a residence on Route 259 near Bolivar.

A concerned relative called police to check on the welfare of a husband and wife at the residence.

Troopers found that Jeanette Brinkos, 62, and Conrad Brinkos, 71, were each the victim of a fatal gunshot wound.

The preliminary investigation points to Conrad Brinkos shooting his wife and then himself, police said.

Resolution will honor Pa. Guard members

U.S. Reps. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, and Tim Holden, R-Lebanon, will introduce a resolution on the House floor today honoring the men and women who serve in the Pennsylvania National Guard, including the troops of the 56th Stryker Brigade, who recently returned from Iraq.

More than 4,000 guard members, including many from this region, serve in the unit.

They left Iraq in late August and returned to their homes in September.

Two members of the 56th bri-gade – Chad Edmundson of Williamsburg, Blair County, and Mark Baum of Quakertown, Bucks County – were killed in separate battle-related incidents during their nearly year-long tour in Iraq.

The Shuster-Holden resolution will be broadcast on C-Span and will be recorded for distribution on Shuster’s YouTube, blog and Twitter pages, press secretary Jeff Urbanchuk said Tuesday.

Credit union offers day of shredding

USSCO Federal Credit Union will hold a Shred Day from

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Richland Township office, 32 Oakridge Drive.

The event is being held as part of International Credit Union Day.

Shredding will be limited to one paper box per family for credit union members.

VFW opens student essay contests

Veterans of Foreign Wars District 26 (Cambria, Armstrong and Indiana counties) has announced that this year’s Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Essay contests are open and that the deadline for student entries for both is

Nov. 1.

High school students compete in the Voice of Democracy contest by writing and then recording a three- to five-minute audio essay expressing their views on the theme “Does America Still Have Heroes?”

In the Patriot’s Pen competition, pupils in sixth through eighth grades write an essay of 300 to 400 words on the theme “When is the Right Time to Honor Our Military Heroes?”

National top prizes are a $30,000 scholarship in the Voice of Democracy contest and a $10,000 savings bond for the Patriot’s Pen competition.

More information is available from Joseph W. Rogal Sr. of Hastings, District 26 chairman for both contests, by calling 247-8706 or e-mailing rogal26@verizon.net.

Basket party to aid Alzheimer’s battle

NANTY GLO – A basket party to raise funds for the fight against Alzheimer’s disease will be held Sunday at the Nanty Glo fire hall.

The annual fundraiser was created by the family of Marie Bishop of Vintondale, who lost her battle with the disease.