Standing in front of the tree are court house employees Christy Dumond, Traci Gaither, Linda Manns, Debi Woodard, Pat Morrison, Jawanna Wheeler and Kelsey Kossakowski.

For the tenth year in a row victims lost by violent crimes will be remembered at the Okmulgee County court house.
Rob Barris, district attorney,
The Office of the District Attorney, O.R. Barris III, is making preparations for the Tenth Annual Victim’s Tree for Okmulgee County. The project, coordinated by the Victim Witness Coordinator Debi Woodard, is designed to place a tree on Courthouse property which honors victims of violent crimes whose lives were lost in Okmulgee County.
Ornaments displaying the names of the victims decorate the tree and will be on display on the 2nd floor of the Courthouse during the upcoming Christmas season. While the loss of loved ones is felt throughout the year, often times it is even more painful during the holiday season.
Assistance for the project has come from a variety of civic groups, government agencies and private citizens. A special thank you to Okmulgee Wal-Mart for donating the trees and bulbs not only for Okmulgee County, but also McIntosh County and our newest facility, Safe Harbor.
“Christmas time is the time of the year we cherish the opportunity to be with family and friends,” said Barris. “Each person on the Victim’s Tree represents a life lost too soon and a family somewhere that has an empty seat at the table. This Christmas tree serves to honor those who have been the victims of violence in Okmulgee County. For those who have lost them it is my hope that the ornaments containing the names of those whose lives have been taken serve to honor them and their loved ones. We in prosecution and law enforcement have not forgotten and count it as a privilege whenever we can bring their killers to justice.”
He said anyone who has lost a loved one to a violent crime in Okmulgee County, should contact Debi Woodard at 918-938-0694, Jawanna Wheeler at 918-938-0782 or Kelsey Kossakowski at 918-752-2939.