Quiz bowl

APRIL 30—Northside Urban Pathways Charter School will host the Third Annual Pittsburgh Regional African-American Quiz Bowl from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the August Wilson Center for African American History, 980 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. The event is free and open to all high schools. The emcee will be Andrew Stockey of WTAE-TV. Visit www.nupcs.com.

The number of African-Americans entering the Pittsburgh police force continues to drop at an alarming rate. From February 2007 to July 2008 there were only three Black officers out of 107 total officers in four classes. Despite several requests, the classes of 2009 and 2010 were not sent. According to sources there was only one Black out of 40 in the last class.

NOBLE OFFICERS—Reverend John Welch, who is not a member of NOBLE, with Jill Rustin, Hawthorne Conley, Maurita Bryant, Lavonnie Bickerstaff, Diane Richard, Richard Stewart Jr. and Christine Williams.

The city’s public safety administrators have pledged to increase diversity through an increase in outreach efforts. However, some officers don’t see outreach as the problem. Instead they see a flawed system where hiring is subjective and at times even racist.

The Black police officers we contacted did not wish to be identified for fear of losing their jobs so we referred to the two that were willing to talk on the record as Officer 1 and Officer 2.

Nearly a month after he was reported missing, authorities are still looking for Rodnell Burton, a 17-year-old Black male from Homewood. He was last seen driving a 2000 White Chrysler Sebring, when he went to drop off his girlfriend at her home in Plum Borough on March 28.

Although Burton has left home before, his mother told authorities she always had an idea of his whereabouts.

Burton is described as 5-4, 130 pounds and driving a vehicle with a Pennsylvania license plate with HJX-9029.

Anyone with information is asked to call 412-323-7141 or 911. Callers may remain anonymous.

It was routine, like any other day. Park the car in the garage, walk up the steps into the house, but then Dr. Frank Sessoms tripped.

“My leg slipped under the cast-iron railing and was caught,” he said. “I tried to hold myself up by my arm, but I couldn’t get my leg out. I had to let go, and when I fell I knew I’d broken my hip.”

DR. FRANK SESSOMS

That was March 10. On April 19, Sessoms officially closed his office. He said he plans to reopen it, but his doctors have told him he cannot bear any weight for three months.

Sessoms was initially evaluated at Allegheny General Hospital, then moved to West Penn Hospital for surgery to stabilize his hip. Though successful, Sessoms is still receiving in-patient treatment for the deep cut to his leg caused by the railing.