Tallahassee Democrat from Tallahassee, Florida • Page 1

Volume 106. Issue 53, FeO. 22, 2011 75 Cents SEVEN DAYS TAPS OUT SAVION GLOVER'S FANCY FOOTWORK CLOSES FESTIVAL WITH A FLOURISH PAGE 1 LOCAL CAPITAL Subscribers, activate your account now to see more Seven Days photos on Tallahassee.com. It's easy to do. For help activating, see Page 2 News.

tti TallahaSSGeoCOm -ry75CENTS i Tuesday, February 22, 2011 Fallamassee Democrat 1 Promoting democracy since 1905 Jury recommends Scott on defensive in DOC pep talk nnn Iff By Jim Ash FLORIDA CAPITAL BUREAU CHIEF In the latest round between Gov. Rick Scott the millionaire health care mogul and tea party favorite and state workers, score one for the workers. Scott was briefly jt thrown on the defen- sive Mon-1 1 day when he toured the headquarters of the Depart-m of Corrections and gave a pep talk to 450 workers, many of them nervous about impending layoffs. As he has at Scott INSIDE Floridi-ans plan protests around the state. Page 1 Local Capital i i I' Online TALLAHASSEE.COM See more photqs from the Gary Michael Hilton trial.

E-edition users, click on this link to see the photo www.tallahassee.comhilton Above, Gary Michael Hilton and his defense attorney Ines Suber listen during the sentencing phase of Hilton's murder trial Monday. At left, State Attorney Willie Meggs speaks to the Jury. The jury voted 12-0 In favor of death for Hilton. Photos by GLENN BEIL Democrat every agency stop, Scott opened the floor for questions. The crowd burst into applause when veteran accounting supervisor Delphine Hill politely but firmly pointed out that state workers have not had a raise in six years and are now being threatened with increased health care costs and reduced benefits.

"You said to hold you accountable," Hill said. "What have you required of the wealthiest Florid-ians to contribute to the state deficit?" Scott has proposed slashing the state budget by $5 billion, trimming the state workforce by 5 percent and showering corporations with $1.7 billion in tax breaks. The cuts would cost the DOC $82 million and nearly 1,700 positions, if the Legislature goes along with the spending recommendation this spring. Scott was briefly flummoxed, but quickly regained his poise. If state government is leaner and more efficient, entrepreneurs will come to Florida and create jobs, Scott said.

Consumers flock to Walmart because of cheaper prices, hot because of the benefit package it offers to its employees, Scott said. "In business, your over-See SCOTT, PAGE 2 NEWS By Jennifer Portman DEMOCRAT SENIOR WRITER A unanimous Leon County jury recommended Monday afternoon that twice-convicted killer Gary Michael Hilton be sentenced to death for the December 2007 murder of Cheryl Dunlap. Circuit Judge James Hankin-son will formally impose Hilton's sentence, likely in about two weeks. The jury of six men and six women, which found Hilton guilty last week of the kidnapping, theft and murder of the 46-year-old Crawfordville resident, deliberated for an hour and 20 minutes before reaching its decision. It is the first time in 19 years that a Leon County jury has recommended the death penalty.

State Attorney Willie Meggs, his chief assistant prosecutor Georgia Cappleman and Dun-lap's family and friends welcomed the jury's decision. "I think it was the right verdict," said Meggs, who was surprised by the rare unanimous recommendation of death. "If there was ever a case for it, this was it." Meggs commended Leon County law enforcement officials who diligently followed up on leads in pursuit of the killer. Dunlap's cousin, Gloria Tucker, praised the jury. "I am so pleased, 12 to zip," Tucker said.

"I am so overwhelmed that these 12 saw it exactly as it should be." The sentence wasn't justice for Dunlap, Tucker added, but for others who might have become Hilton's victims. "Sherry was a wonderful, kind person, and he is a monster," she said. Dunlap's friend Tanya Land echoed that sentiment. "It doesn't bring Cheryl back," Land said. "What it does is say that we as a society will stop making excuses for people and See HILTON, page 2 NEWS hands in an effort to cover up his crimes, incinerated them in his campsite burn pit and dumped her dismembered body about five miles away, where it was found two weeks later by a hunter who noticed buzzards, covered with leaves and palmetto fronds.

After Hilton abducted Dun-lap, a nurse and Sunday school teacher, from Leon Sinks Geological Area on Dec. 1, he kept her captive in the nearby woods for up to two days, evidence showed, finally strangling, shooting or bludgeoning her to death Filially, he sawed off her head and INDEX Sears surprised by Leon Teacher of the Year award Breaking news on your cell phone i Newt Page 5 Business Comics Page 6 Page 5 Online TALLAHASSEE.COM LJS2l By Ashley Ames DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER The look on Erica Sears', face went from shock to happiness as she opened the doors to Godby High Page 5 Editorials Newt Page 6 Horoscope Local Page 6 Lottery News Page 2 Nation News Page 3 Obituaries Newt Page 4 Television Local Page 5 her head at her husband, Steve, who kept the news a secret all weekend. Superintendent Jackie Pons gave Sears a bouquet of roses and shook her hand. "She represents what our school system is all about," he said to the group. "Great teaching." After hugging her three children and her hus- School front office.

Standing in front of See more photos of the Teacher of the Year. E-edition users, click on this link to see the photo gallery: www.tarlahaSsee.comteacher TextTALLYNEWS to 44636 (41NF0) NEWS ON THE GO: Get headlines delivered to your inbox by visiting Tallahassee.com email. Or get the latest news on your mobile device at m.tdo.com. Jj her was a group of WEATHER Si Today: High 70s Tonight: High 40s Rain: 10 Weather: Page 6, Sports iiicixuo, iaLLxj, etui Leon County administrators, all smiling. She stood for just a moment, taking it all in.

Sears had just been Sears band, Sears said that the honor was a collaborative effort that belonged to Godby as a whole. "This is about our school," she said. "Not MINNUMSOt ADVERTISING 850-599-2100 599-2210. 671544 CIRCULATION NEWS TIP HOTLINE 800-999-2271 850-599-2233 TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT Volume 106. Issue S3, Fat.

22. 2011 75 Cents told that she was Leon County Teacher of the Year, and, truly, she could not have been more sur 15 locations to serve you. 4027500 www.ccbg.com prised. Gannett newsnaner "I had no idea," she said, shaking See SEARS, PAGE 2 NEWS ii CwrttM Mil Capital City More than your bank. Your banker..