Legislators acknowledge Bethel Park family for memorial Martha’s Run
Tragedy struck Paul Dixon’s family 22 years ago, when his sister, FBI Special Agent Martha Dixon, was killed while stopping a gunman.
“But the Dixon family has taken that and made so much good,” said state Rep. John Maher, R-Upper St. Clair.
At the Bethel Park Council meeting Oct. 10, Maher and fellow representatives Dan Miller, D-Mt. Lebanon, and Rick Saccone, R-Elizabeth Township, honored the Dixon family for its Martha’s Run, a 10-kilometer race that raises money for playgrounds in the South Hills. The event is held on the second Saturday of April every year in Mt. Lebanon, Martha Dixon’s hometown.
The 20th annual Martha’s Run was held last spring, and to date, the event has raised more than $100,000, which has been used to build a new playground in Mt. Lebanon and improve playgrounds in other neighborhoods in suburban Pittsburgh.
“It’s a fantastic event. It’s a great community event, and it’s an event that has really made a difference,” Miller said before he and his fellow lawmakers presented a citation from the commonwealth honoring the Dixon family. Paul Dixon is a member of Bethel Park’s municipal council.
Martha Dixon died in 1994 when a gunman entered police headquarters in Washington, D.C. At the time, FBI agents were working with D.C. police to solve cold cases. The gunman made his way to that office and fatally shot a police detective and a special agent. Martha Dixon returned fire and shot the gunman, but she also wasAl killed.
“He wanted to kill as many police as possible,” Paul Dixon said. “She died heroically. She stopped him in the middle of his rampage.”
Also on Oct. 10:
• Council also filled the vacancy caused by the death of longtime Ward 1 Councilman John Pape. Joseph Consolmagno was selected from among eight applicants to serve until the 2017 general election.
“It is bittersweet, because we are replacing a longtime member, but it is good to see so much community interest,” said Tim Moury, council president.
He reminded residents that the municipality has vacancies on the planning commission and the zoning hearing board.
• Potential refinancing of the debt the municipality incurred to build the new fire station on Brightwood Road was approved. Interest rates have dropped, so Bethel Park stands to save about $210,000 by refinancing, which would be used to decrease the municipality’s debt service payments
• Council approved SPS Properties’ request to rezone three vacant parcels on Library Road from C-4 to C-1. The developer plans to build a small retail center there.
• Carol Stewart was appointed to the zoning hearing board.
• Council agreed to apply for grant funding through Allegheny County Sanitary Authority’s Green Revitalization of our Greenways program for a sewer project on McLaughlin Run. Council also applied for funds through Allegheny County Department of Economic Development for the Cherry Street storm sewer construction project.