A Christmas tree in Hall County Magistrate's Court this holiday season honors the memory of a Hall County sheriff's deputy who was killed in the line of duty this year.
Nicolas Blane Dixon was killed during a gun battle on July 8 with suspected burglars.
“The office decided after Deputy (Nicolas Blane) Dixon's passing that we wanted to create a tree this year in his honor for the dedication and sacrifice he made for the citizens of Hall County,” the court's Deputy Clerk, Linda MacIver, said in a posting on the sheriff's department's Facebook page. “His passing touched everyone deeply, and this tree sits in our lobby to remind everyone that law enforcement personnel work hard and sacrifice their lives every day for the good of their community.”
The tree, decorated in black, blue and silver, features individually decorated ornaments expressing support for the sheriff's office and the memory of Dixon. In addition, a framed photograph of Dixon is nestled in the tree's branches.
MacIver added that the loss of the sheriff's department's beloved K9 bloodhound, Gus, this year has also not been forgotten. Gus died in August, apparently of natural causes, and magistrate court plans to honor his memory on the tree next year.
