Flags lowered to honor Holli Bolinski

PINCKNEYVILLE - The flags at the Perry County Courthouse and throughout the city of Pinckneyville are flying at half staff these days since news circulated last week that resident Holli Bolinski had died while serving her country in Kuwait.

The 37-year-old mother of five was killed last Tuesday, along with 20-year-old Spc. Jackson Johnson of Hillsboro, Mo. According to an Associated Press report, the Department of Defense called the deaths "a noncombat-related incident."

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Johnson's family confirmed he died when a civilian truck ran a stop sign and T-boned the side of the SUV the soldiers were riding in.

Pinckneyville Mayor Robert Spencer said Monday he would describe his community as "in a state of shock and disbelief" with the news of Bolinski's passing.

He added that he has been in touch with Holli's husband, Robert, and related that the city would do anything it could to assist the family in its time of need.

Spencer said there has not been any news as to when Bolinski's body would arrive in Pinckneyville. No date of funeral service has yet been established. The mayor said that St. Bruno Catholic Church is expected to host the memorial service and that burial would be in the Catholic cemetery.

Pyatt Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.