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the almanac J U LY 21, 2024

SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS

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Community shaken

Trump assassination attempt brings flurry of attention to Bethel Park By Jon Andreassi Staff writer

jandreassi@observer-reporter.com

BETHEL PARK – At about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, July 14, Keith and Joann Holzer noticed flashing police sirens and law enforcement on the street in their Bethel Park neighborhood. They went to bed without giving it too much thought, unaware that the man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald J. Trump had just been identified as a neighbor who lived down the street.

Federal investigators descended upon the Milford Drive home of Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, that night after he used an AR-style rifle to injure the former president, kill one person and critically injure two others that Saturday while Trump was speaking at a rally in Butler. The Holzers live nearby on Highland Road, which intersects with Milford. When they woke up, they realized the seriousness of the situation.

JON ANDREASSI/OBSERVER-REPORTER

COURTESY OF BETHEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT

SEE TRUMP PAGE A3 Thomas Matthew Crooks

Bethel Park police officers Andrew Jacobs and Dave Arnold stand at the Milford Road blockade Monday as investigators continue working at the home of Thomas Crooks.

Going the distance PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MATHENY FAMILY

Josh Matheny was all smiles after finishing second in the 200-meter breaststroke to gain his spot on the U.S. swim team that will compete in the Summer Olympics.

Competitive edge makes Matheny an Olympian

ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC:

Jeff and Kristin Matheny pose in front of a yard sign congratulating their son, Josh, on making the United States Swim Team that will compete in the Summer Olympics set to begin July 26 in Paris.

Parents pave path for Olympian offspring By Eleanor Bailey

By Eleanor Bailey

Almanac Sports Editor

ebailey@thealmanac.net

At age 5, Josh Matheny of Upper St. Clair exhibited a competitive spirit that would make him an Olympian. During a mini meet, which allowed participants to race with floating aids, Matheny glanced to his side and saw a swimmer with a bubble on his back in the adjacent lane surging ahead. Immediately, Matheny ducked under the lane rope and blocked the progress of his opponent. “I’m not sure it was his first ‘real win’ but it’s one that we remember,” said Matheny’s parents, Jeff and Kristin. “To this day, we call the kid ‘Bubble Boy,’ but Josh was having none of that, losing to a kid who had an aid.” After the race, Jeff and Kristin reproved Josh. “You can’t go into another kid’s lane,” they chided gently. While Josh is still teased about the incident, it established a characteristic that propelled him to gain a spot on the U.S. swim team that will compete in the Summer Olympic Games, beginning July 26 in Paris. “We knew then that Josh was a competitor,” Kristin said. “He hates to lose,” Jeff added. “He’s a much better sport than he was at 5, but he Josh Matheny gets fitted for the official uniform the American athletes will still doesn’t like to lose. He loves to win.” wear as they parade into the Paris venue for the opening ceremonies for the SEE MATHENY PAGE A2 Summer Olympic Games.

MT. LEBANON Cloudy water issues at pool addressed by township PAGE A6 What’s happening, B3

SPORTS Royals select Mt. Lebanon’s Shields in MLB draft PAGE B1 Real estate transactions, A5

When Kristin and Jeff Matheny were asked about the sacrifices they made to help their son, Josh, earn a roster spot on the U.S. Swimming Team that will compete in the Summer Olympic Games, the Upper St. Clair couple looked at each other and laughed. “Honestly, I love swimming,” Kristin said. “I am the biggest geek. I will go to every session and watch the kids.” “She knows every time and every swimmer. More than Josh,” Jeff added. “It’s a passion. Really there was no sacrifice. We are both so excited.” Kristin always had an affinity for swimming. She excelled at North Hills High School, even holding the 100-yard breaststroke record for a time. “Oh, my gosh, not even near Josh,” she said. “I loved swimming but wasn’t good enough to even contemplate being at his level.”

After competing at Bowdoin College, where she majored in economics and history, Kristin earned an MBA from Case-Western, but the 55-year-old did not return to the sport until she joined the Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club’s masters program in 2012. While Jeff said he did not foresee Kristin as a “stay-athome mom” when they wed 31 years ago, they agreed the family was “fortunate” she fulfilled that role. “When I had the kids, I had no desire to be in that corporate world,” Kristin said. “As a management consultant, I was required to do a lot of travel. That did not translate well into parenthood.” In addition to Josh, the couple also reared two successful daughters. Both were also swimmers. Meghan, 26, is following in her father’s footsteps, who is an orthopedic surgeon in the Allegheny Health Network. Meghan just completed her second year of medical school at Penn State. SEE PARENTS PAGE A2

SIGHTS & SOUNDS Phipps delights visitors with flower show PAGE B3 Classifieds, B4-6