Cohort fills vacated spot in tree

Nearly a week after she climbed the remains of an elm tree in downtown Lawrence, a woman calling herself Sikha came down Monday night, but the effort to save the tree continues.

Sikha was replaced by a woman calling herself Aeon.

The saga surrounding the elm tree at Eighth and Rhode Island streets continued Tuesday with no sign of a resolution, the tree supporters said.

The group moved in and took over the tree site after the branches were cut off the tree, leaving only a 30-foot trunk. Owners of the property said the tree was diseased and unsafe.

Bo Harris, CEO of Harris construction, said last week that he probably would have a document prepared promising not to cut down the remainder of the tree before July 4. Harris Family Properties is an owner of the property. Much of the tree was cut down just before Sikha and others who wanted to save the tree took action.

But no documentation was received Tuesday, Aeon and other supporters camped out at the base of the tree said. They wanted assurances the site would become a park or something similar. They also wanted proof that the tree was dying.

Harris couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.

Tree supporters have been picking up the sticks and small branches that were cut from the tree and left lying on the ground. Flowers from people who have stopped by to drop them off are being planted around the base of the tree.