(EIjc Jlortlanò (Observer Page A2 Ad\ crtise with diversity in <rb* P o rtia n i* (O b a rn irr Portland General Electric presents NEW FRONTIERS IN DIVERSITY DIVERSITY SUMMIT 2004 Learn how to build a stronger, more competitive organization ready to face the challenges of the 21st century at PGE's Diversity Summit 2004. It's an opportunity for anyone interested in diversity issues in today's workplace Register online to attend classes with worldwide leaders in diversity W ednesday issues, network A p ril 28 with the region's top O regon organizations, and C o nvention C enter learn from outstanding 8 a.m . - 5 p.m . keynote speakers. Stephens Sentenced to Life (A P )— A man convicted o f rap ing, sodom izing and m urdering a 14-year-old girl w ho was abducted w hile walking to school from her hom e in northeast Portland, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility o f parole. The 12-memberjury reached their verdict M onday, ju st o v er tw o hours after they began their delib eratio n . T he d ec isio n w as a n nounced to the court on Tuesday. Prosecutors had urged the jury to sentence Ladon A. Stephens to death, calling him a "hom icidal se rial rapist." “ N o th in g w orks w ith Ladon S te p h e n s ,” s a id M u ltn o m a h C ounty Senior Deputy District A t torney Rod Underhill. "O ur great est fear is. W ho is going to be the next victim o f Ladon Stephens?” But Tom and Mary Bittler, the parents o f 14-year-old M elissa, w hom Stephens killed in 2 0 0 ,, had stated publicly they preferred he Keynote Speakers Madame Jehan Sadat, world-renowned peace and civil-rights activist and widow of the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat Judy Shepard, champion of hate-crime legislation in memory of her slain son Matthew Shepard Convicted sniper John Allen Muhammad (left) during sentencing Tuesday in Manassas, Va. (AP photo) Mark Williams, author of the highly acclaimed book 10 /ruses Your Guide to Living mid Working ill u Multicullurnl World DC Sniper Gets Death Sentence Portland General Electric THANKS It TO OUR SPONSORS: Prnvidm rr | Health System A c a r in g d i f f e r e n c e y o u c e n f e e l ♦ PACIFIC POWER FredMeyer Standard Insurance Company Hewlett-Packard Company T R I © "W M E T N a tu ra l Port of Portland Legacy Health System Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon P o rtla n d G e n e ra l.c o m /D iv e rs ity S u m m it Melissa Bittler was murdered after leaving home for school. not be sentenced to death. It w as an opinion that they were not allow ed to share in front o f the ju ry , h o w ever. M elissa Bittler w as S tephens’ last victim. Prosecutors identified 19 other girls and w om en he had threatened, or assaulted. Last m onth, the sam e jury con victed Stephens, 35, o f three 1997 rapes o f 14- and 15-year-old girls and the 2002 rape o f his girlfrien d 's cousin. Chamber Honors Black Women For more details and to register, visit Por tlandGeneral com/DiversitySummit PGE/ March 10.2004 (A P) — John Allen M uham m ad was sentenced to death Tuesday for his role in the sniper shootings that terrorized the W ashington area. Circuit Judge LeRoy F. MiIlette Jr. turned aside a plea from Muhammad- s lawyers to spare their client's life. He ordered Muhammad executed on Oct. 14, but that date likely will be post poned to allow appeals. M uhammad, 43, w as convicted o f capital m urder on Nov. 17 and a ju ry recom m ended he be sentenced to death for the m urder o f Dean H arold M eyers at a gas station near M anassas. M uham m ad denied any involve ment in the killingsTuesday. telling the judge, “D o n 't m ake a fool o f the Constitution o f the United States o f A m erica.” “Just like I said at the begin ning, I had nothing to do with this, and I'll say again, I had noth ing to do with this," M uham m ad said. D efense lawyers had filed a motion M onday arguing that life in prison w as the more appropri ate sentence to elim inate the dis p arity betw een M u h a m m a d 's punishm ent and that o f his 18- year-old partner in the killings, Lee Boyd Malvo. M alvo, who will be formally sentenced W ednesday in C hesa peake, was given life in prison by the jury in that case. African-American women will be honored at the A frican A m erican C ham ber o f C om m erce’s annual event titled "N ever U nderestim ate the Power o f a Black W om an" at the O regon C onvention C enter on Fri day, M arch 19. T h is g a la h o n o rs A fric a n - A m erican w om en in O regon and so u th w est W ash in g to n for th e ir acco m p lish m e n ts and d ed icatio n to im proving in d iv id u al and co m m u n ity liv e s a n d p e r s o n a l ach ie v em e n ts. “A frican-A m erican w omen sel dom get this recognition for build ing com m unities and families. This is long overdue,” said Roy Jay, president o f the cham ber. Highlights o f the event include keynote speaker Patricia Russell M cCloud, nationally-noted orator, educator and m otivational speaker, recognized by O prah W infrey and many publications from coast-to- Ask o Patricia Russell McCloud coast. Renow ned evangelist TD Jakes will also make a special pre sentation. T ickets are limited. T hose inter ested in attending should call 503- 244-5794, extension 48 for reserva tions and m ore inform ation. parents and I d o n ’t w ant to hurt neither one. M y d ad ’s a good man and if he asks me. I ca n ’t look him in the eye and lie about it. Help! — A nonym ous; Indianapolis, Ind. Dear Anonymous: t ’s Not W h eth er Win or But How You Play The Game Real People, Real Advice An advice column known fo r its fearless approach to reality based subjects! Let your m other know s h e 's wrong and shouldn’t be doing this to your dad. Y our m other is unfit because sh e 's teaching you adultery, forni cation and lying. If your dad asks, d o n 't lie — tell ev erything you know. Pray for your m other b e cause w hen that dram a harvest com es in that she’s sow ing it ain 't going to be pretty. S h e 's going to reap what she sow ed in such a way that only the Lord can save her. Dear Deanna! Dear Deanna! D uring M arch M adness my hus band loses his m ind over the bas ketball crap. It’s so bad w e’ve al m ost divorced because he chooses the gam es over me. W hen these college gam es begin, he goes on vacation, w o n ’t bathe or do noth ing except sit and rom ance the tele vision. W e’ve had too m any sports argum ents and enough is enough! —M elissa; Little Rock, Ark. I love being naked and having sex in public. I’ ve paid a few tickets for indecent exposure but the thri II turns me on. N ow I’m pregnant and I d o n 't w ant to go through the preg nancy because I w o n ’t be able to show my body anym ore. I dread the w eight gain, the stretch m arks and I’ll have to keep covered. How do I cope? —Victoria; Inglew ood.Calif. Dear Melissa: You cope by going back into the rubber room you cam e out o f. Cope by keeping your legs closed or having safe sex so you d o n ’t get pregnant. C ope by grow ing up and realize y o u ’re bringing a child into this world and the freaky behavior m ust go. Last but not least, cope by exercising afterb irth , put m ake-up on your sears, walk your crazy be hind outside nude and social ser vices will take the child and y o u ’ll have exactly what you wanted. Seek family counseling immediately. Dear Victoria: T h e g a m e is j u s t a g a m e , i t ’s h o w y o u p la y t h a t m a k e s th e d iffe re n c e . I f s o m e o n e y o u k n o w is g a m b l i n g f o r m o r e t h a n f u n , t h e y m a y h a v e a p r o b le m . W a r n in g s i g n s in c lu d e : P r e o c c u p a t io n w i t h g a m b lin g G a m b lin g to e s c a p e L y in g to c o v e r u p g a m b lin g T r e a t m e n t c a n h e lp p r o b le m g a m b le r s p u t th e g a m e b a c k in p e r s p e c tiv e a n d g e t t h e i r liv e s b a c k o n t r a c k . T r e a tm e n t is fr e e , c o n f id e n tia l a n d it w o r k s . If p la y in g isn 't fun anym ore, ca ll for 1-877-2-ST O P -N O W L ic e n s e d t r e a t m e n t p r o v id e r s a r e th e r e to lis te n , h e lp a n d m a k e r e f e r r a l s to lo c a l t r e a t m e n t c e n te r s 24 h o u r s a day. How about som e cheese with your whine!! Sports obsession is a man thing and they go bananas during M arch M adness. You knew o f his sports obsession before marriage so stop tripping. Be glad your man isn’t obsessed with strippers and he has a jo b that he can take vaca tion from. Take advantage o f the quiet tim e w hile h e 's buried in bas ketball and do som ething for your self. O h yeah— quit nagging. Dear Deanna! H elp me fast! My m o th er's having an affair on my father and I' m in the middle. I'v e lied for my m otherand covered for her but I think she’s about to get busted. M y d ad ’s real suspicious and h e 's going to ques tion me soon. I’m loyal to both my Ask Deanna is written by Deanna M. Write Ask Deanna! Email: askdeanna ! @ yahoo.com or write: Deanna M, P.O. Box 88847, Los Angeles, CA 90009. Website: www.askdeanna.com Advertise with diversity in ü h ^Lìortlattò (¡Dbserui'r Call 503-288-0033 Or visit w w w .oregonlotteryhelp.org or email: ads@portlandobserver.com