We are experiencing an explosion in sex toys as must-have Christmas gifts. Sex toys have gone from being a marginal item found behind unmarked shopfronts or disguised as massage products to a significant part of America’s economy over the past three decades. The sexual revolution has been driven by evolving societal attitudes, technological advancements, discreet online shopping, and, increasingly, an awareness of the positive physical and mental health impact of sexual wellness. While estimates vary, one estimated that the U.S. sex toy market is currently worth $30 billion a year. Americans are spending about the same amount of money on vibrators, kinks, and lube as they are on books. And Christmas is a sex sales boom. Indeed, the Womanizer brand—whose toys had a moment in the sun this year when Katy Perry pulled one out of her tool belt in the video for has even produced an for $200. Mariah Freya, the CEO and co-founder of , a “pleasure-based sex education” site that offers subscribers tutorials on how to have better sex, told the Daily Beast that Christmas is a time when people are buying more sex toys because we tend to be more focused on sex at times of celebration, when life feels “fun and positive like at Christmas.” She has some empirical evidence to back up this thesis too: “December is the month when people have the most sex in the Northern Hemisphere. You see born in September and October.” She says the rise of sex toys as desirable Christmas gifts has accompanied their transition from crude “d--k shaped” objects into “more abstract, more colorful and more minimalistic styles of sex toys, which celebrate the idea that pleasure is an integral part of our lifestyle. It’s part of the optimization of our lives. Having great sex is at the very top of the pyramid of needs.” She adds that while sex toys are often associated with sexual adventure, they are increasingly part of “the most hetero relationships,” because “at some point sex will be frustrating. At some point we will have bad sex, and that will extend until we figure out how to do it differently. Sex toys and education can have an interesting role to play in assisting us on this journey.” Lucy Litwack, the CEO of one of the first brands to take sex toys upmarket, , told the Daily Beast, “Exploring what works for you and your body is such a wonderful part of self-discovery. Toys can help you embark on the extraordinary journey to experiencing pleasure. A luxury sex toy goes far beyond the price point. It’s all about experience and evoking an emotional connection, a sensory joy. Every aspect of the experience has to be considered. The colour and texture, the strength and performance, the details and finishing touches, the packaging, they all play key factors.” Litwack says that their “number 1 bestselling toy” this year is . Winner of Best Luxury Vibrator in the awards, this sleek, palm-sized device for women combines suction stimulation with vibration. It certainly looks the part, arriving in zip-up leather case that would work as a miniature valise for a very chic Barbie doll. It’s almost $200. Litwack says another big seller this year is another product aimed at women, the , which is an aesthetically sensitive update on the celebrated sex-toy classic, the Rampant Rabbit. A spokesperson for online adult boutique told The Daily Beast: “We’re all about empowering people to explore and enjoy their intimate lives, and the holidays are the perfect time to do just that.” The spokesperson said their top selling items were the Iconic Vibrator, the Evolved Novelties Pretty in Pink Bullet Vibrator and the Seaquake Bullet Vibrator. All three are under $40 apiece. At the Brooklyn premises of hip sex store , sales assistant Lola (who is also a sex “edutainer” under the name @dirtylola on Instagram and BlueSky) said that Christmas is now second only to Valentine’s Day for sex toy sales. A perennial best seller for them is the (famous to those of a certain generation as the favorite of Samantha in , when it was still marketed as a Hitachi massage aide but has now embraced its destiny and rebranded as a sex toy.) “It’s still the Cadillac of vibrators,” Lola says. “It’s rechargeable, they do it in mini, they do it in micro. We always have it in stock.” She says another brand selling well this year is the woman-owned Dame line of products, especially the which retails at just $36. “Most of their products are very high end and generally well over $100, so this has been very popular this year,” she says. While most sex toys are still aimed at women, the market for men is growing exponentially as guys shake off their own hang-ups, those in the multi-billion dollar sex toy industry report. In fact, retailer says that its flat out best-selling product of the season is one aimed at men. Called the , the device is designed for prostate stimulation; interestingly, its manufacturers are emphasizing the reputed health benefits of prostate stimulation (some studies suggest that it can reduce problems like prostate enlargement), suggesting that perhaps some men still like a bit of plausible deniability. A spokesperson for the brand said: “Prostate orgasms are notoriously known to be a full-body experience, much like a female G-spot orgasm, which is probably why the P-spot is affectionately coined the ‘male G-Spot.’ We’ve seen a very large desire and curiosity about prostate stimulation and anal stimulation. We believe this is in part because Molto is made with a low barrier of entry, meaning it’s ultra-slim and beginner-friendly. Its size makes it non-intimidating to many people who may have been scared by the large size of most prostate massagers and vibrators.” Elisabeth Neumann, head of user research at Lovehoney—whose best sellers for men include the , a “stroker which targets the super-sensitive nerves in the frenulum for an experience that can’t be matched,”—told tThe Daily Beast there is a “growing trend of people purchasing sex toys as Christmas gifts,” adding that the brand’s , have become “increasingly popular in the past years.” Neumann says that while their data shows that women are “often more open to receiving sex toys as a gift” men “are also increasingly receptive, especially with the rising availability of products designed specifically for their enjoyment, such as wearable devices, prostate massagers, and couples’ toys.” Neumann adds: “Gifting a sex toy for Christmas can come with its own challenges—like deciding the right moment to hand it over and unwrap it—but it can also add a playful spark and excitement to the festivities.” So, whatever you end up buying for the special someone in your life, don’t forget three things; it’s the thought that counts, anything is better than another pair of socks, and make sure the label doesn’t fall off if you are going put this gift under the tree.jilibet download 。

R S Sharma Steps Down As Non-Executive Chairperson Of ONDC In 3 MonthsNone

Fancy Bear 'Nearest Neighbor' Attack Uses Nearby Wi-Fi Network

Mayor's Minute: Some encouraging news on the economic development front

Canada Sets Bold 2035 Emissions Target Amid Climate and Political UncertaintyWilmington, Del., Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Avoca business to Mane. The transaction is expected to close in the calendar first quarter 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Ashland's Avoca business supplies Sclareolide, a fragrance fixative, and a range of contract manufacturing capabilities from two production facilities in North Carolina and Wisconsin. The Avoca business line represents the last entity from Ashland’s previous acquisition of Pharmachem. “The Avoca business is a strong player in the fragrance fixative space with a dedicated team and attractive manufacturing capabilities to meet customer needs,” said Guillermo Novo, chair and chief executive officer, Ashland. “I want to thank the Avoca employees for their dedication and commitment to Ashland and to our customers.” Squire Patton Boggs is acting as legal advisor to Ashland. Update Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Ashland has identified some of these forward-looking statements with words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “is likely,” “predicts,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “objectives,” “may,” “will,” should,” “plans” and “intends” and the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. In addition, Ashland may from time to time make forward-looking statements in its annual report to shareholders, quarterly reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), news releases and other written and oral communications. These forward-looking statements are based on Ashland’s expectations and assumptions, as of the date such statements are made, regarding Ashland’s future operating performance, financial condition, operating cash flow and liquidity, as well as the economy and other future events or circumstances. These statements include, but may not be limited to, statements about the sale of the Avoca business, including the expected timing for closing of the sale. Various risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, projected or implied by any forward-looking statements, including any delay in the satisfaction of customary closing conditions for the sale of the Avoca business. Factors that will influence the impact on our business and operations include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties affecting Ashland that are described in its most recent Form 10-K (including Item 1A Risk Factors) filed with the SEC, which is available on Ashland’s website at http://investor.ashland.com or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Ashland believes its expectations and assumptions are reasonable, but there can be no assurance that the expectations reflected herein will be achieved. Unless legally required, Ashland undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Information on Ashland’s website is not incorporated into or a part of this news release. About Ashland Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a global additives and specialty ingredients company with a conscious and proactive mindset for environmental, social and governance (ESG). The company serves customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including architectural coatings, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care and pharmaceutical. Approximately 3,200 passionate, tenacious solvers thrive on developing practical, innovative and elegant solutions to complex problems for customers in more than 100 countries. Visit ashland.com and ashland.com/ESG to learn more. About Mane Founded in 1871 by Victor Mane, MANE is one of the leading producers and suppliers of fragrances and flavours globally. Since inception, the company has been owned and managed by five successive generations of the Mane family. MANE is a global group, operating 29 production facilities worldwide and more than 79 sites in more than 40 countries and employing over 8,000 collaborators. The first French company and the fifth largest fragrances and flavours producer in the world and are recognised as the fastest growing major company within the industry. TM Trademark, Ashland or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Attachment Ashland_signs_definitive_ agreement_to_sell_Avoca_business_20241223

CMG Deadline: CMG Investors with Losses in Excess of $100K Have Opportunity to Lead Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Securities Fraud Lawsuit Filed by The Rosen Law FirmThe mysterious ideology of Luigi Mangione: Anti-corporate hero? Far-right tech bro?Region's Labour MPs respond to Mayor Houchen over electric arc furnace plans

Scientists are focusing on the energy centers of cancer cells – in a literal sense – to damage these power sources and induce widespread death in cancer cells. In a recent study, researchers combined methods to administer gene therapy that disrupts energy using nanoparticles designed to specifically target only cancer cells. Tests indicated that the targeted treatment is successful at reducing glioblastoma brain tumors and aggressive breast cancer tumors in mice. The research team addressed a major hurdle by utilizing a cutting-edge technique to dismantle mitochondria – the energy centers of the cell – through a method that creates light-activated electrical currents within the cell. They named this innovative technology mLumiOpto. “We disrupt the membrane so mitochondria cannot work functionally to produce energy or work as a signaling hub. This causes programmed cell death followed by DNA damage – our investigations showed these two mechanisms are involved and kill the cancer cells,” said co-lead author Lufang Zhou, professor of biomedical engineering and surgery at The Ohio State University . “This is how the technology works by design.” Mitochondria play a crucial role as the powerhouses of cells, generating the energy necessary for cellular functions. For years, they have been seen as a promising target for anti-cancer therapies, yet their impermeable inner membrane has posed significant challenges. Five years ago, Zhou’s lab discovered a way to take advantage of a vulnerability in the inner membrane—an electrical charge difference that maintains its structure and ensures its proper functionality. “Previous attempts to use a pharmaceutical reagent against mitochondria-targeted specific pathways of activity in cancer cells,” he said. “Our approach targets mitochondria directly, using external genes to activate a process that kills cells. That’s an advantage, and we’ve shown we can get a very good result in killing different types of cancer cells.” Zhou’s previous cell experiments demonstrated that a protein capable of generating electric currents could cause a disruption in the mitochondrial inner membrane, and researchers utilized a laser to activate this light-sensitive protein. In this latest research, the team developed an internal light source, which is crucial for adapting the technology for clinical applications. The approach involves introducing genetic material for two types of molecules: a light-sensitive protein called CoChR that generates positively charged currents and an enzyme that emits bioluminescence. These components are encapsulated in a modified viral particle and delivered to cancer cells, leading to the production of the proteins as their genes are expressed within the mitochondria . A subsequent injection of a specific chemical activates the enzyme’s light, which in turn triggers CoChR, resulting in the collapse of the mitochondria. Another important aspect of this treatment is to make sure it does not affect healthy cells. Liu’s laboratory focuses on the development of targeted therapies for cancer. The basis for the delivery mechanism in this study is the well-researched adeno-associated virus (AAV), which is a minimally infectious virus designed to transport genes and facilitate their expression for therapeutic applications. To improve the system’s specificity for cancer, the team introduced a promoter protein that increases the expression of the CoChR and bioluminescent enzyme exclusively in cancer cells. Additionally, the researchers developed the AAV using human cells, encapsulating the gene-packed virus in a natural nanocarrier that mimics extracellular vesicles, which are commonly found in human blood and biological fluids. “This construction assures stability in the human body because this particle comes from a human cell line,” Liu said. Finally, the researchers developed and attached to the delivery particle a monoclonal antibody designed to seek out receptors on cancer cell surfaces. “This monoclonal antibody can identify a specific receptor, so it finds cancer cells and delivers our therapeutic genes. We used multiple tools to confirm this effect,” she said. “After constructing AAVs with a cancer-specific promoter and a cancer-targeting nanoparticle, we found this therapy is very powerful to treat multiple cancers.” Research conducted on mouse models demonstrated that the gene therapy approach significantly decreased tumor size when compared to untreated animals in two fast-growing, difficult-to-treat cancers: glioblastoma brain cancer and triple negative breast cancer. Besides reducing tumor size, the treatment also prolonged the survival of mice afflicted with glioblastomas. Imaging studies of the animals further verified that the gene therapy’s effects were confined to cancerous tissue and were not observable in normal tissues. The findings also implied that linking the monoclonal antibody provided the additional advantage of generating an immune response targeting cancer cells within the tumor microenvironment. The research team is exploring further potential therapeutic impacts of mLumiOpto for glioblastoma, triple-negative breast cancer, and other cancers. A provisional patent application for the technologies has been submitted by Ohio State. Journal reference:TPAA forms middle school robotics teamsThe King is scheduled to attend the show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Friday which will see Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish present a musical number from their new show The Devil Wears Prada – based on the 2006 Oscar-nominated film. Cast members Vanessa Williams, who plays Miranda Priestly, and Matt Henry, who stars as art director Nigel, were among those posing on the red carpet ahead of the performance which showcases an original score by Sir Elton. The variety show will also see debuts from British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor with her hit track Murder On The Dancefloor while Eurovision winner Nemo is also featured on the bill. Also posing on the carpet were US magicians and comedy duo Penn and Teller, whose performance marks their 50th anniversary. Comedy will come from Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor, writer and comic Scott Bennett, Scottish comedian Larry Dean and political comic Matt Forde – who posed on the red carpet with a crutch after undergoing surgery for cancer on his spine. Among the arrivals was TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, who will make an appearance in this year’s show with her Change And Check Choir led by Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow. The choir, made up of women from across the UK who detected their breast cancer through Kelly’s campaign, will perform Love Is All Around, which is being re-released to raise awareness of breast cancer early detection. It comes hours after Camilla insisted the “show must go on” after pulling out of attending the performance on Friday evening as doctors advised that she should prioritise rest. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Following a recent chest infection, the Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest. “With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned.” A royal source said the Queen was “naturally disappointed to miss the evening’s entertainments and sends her sincere apologies to all those involved, but is a great believer that ‘the show must go on'”. “She hopes to be back to full strength and regular public duties very soon,” the source added. The Royal Variety Performance will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in December. Money raised from the show will go to help people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance, with the Royal Variety Charity launching an initiative to help those with mental health issues this year.

Article content FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said Wednesday that he would resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s administration, which means President-elect Donald Trump will not have to fire him to nominate longtime ally Kash Patel to lead the bureau. Recommended Videos Trump announced in late November that he wanted to nominate Patel, who has echoed the president-elect’s pledges to make major changes at the bureau and use federal law enforcement agencies to go after Trump’s perceived enemies. The FBI director is subject to Senate confirmation and is eligible to serve a 10-year term. “Kash did an incredible job during my First Term,” Trump said on Truth Social, citing Patel’s various roles including at the Defense Department and the National Security Council. The president-elect said that Patel would “bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI.” Patel, who served as a senior official in the first Trump administration, is the author of a book that includes a list of “deep state” officials to target – which Trump called a “blueprint to help us take back the White House and remove these Gangsters from all of Government,” according to promotional material. Here’s what to know about Patel. He supports Trump’s push for retribution Accounts of Patel’s rise from an obscure Hill staffer to one of the most powerful players in the intelligence community have centred on a key detail: his loyalty to Trump and willingness to go after Trump’s perceived opponents throughout the bureaucracy. Patel’s appointment could stoke growing concern about potential retribution among those whom Trump has described as his enemies, in the government and beyond. Some named on his “deep state” target list have begun taking precautions, The Washington Post has reported. In a 2023 interview on “War Room,” a podcast hosted Stephen K. Bannon, Trump’s onetime chief strategist, Patel threatened to go after journalists if appointed to a role in a Trump administration. “We’re going to come after you, whether it’s criminally or civilly – we’ll figure that out,” he said. The Associated Press described Patel this year as Trump’s “trusted aide and swaggering campaign surrogate who mythologizes the former president while promoting conspiracy theories and his own brand.” He served in the first Trump administration Patel held multiple roles: chief of staff to acting defence secretary Christopher Miller, deputy assistant to the president, senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council and deputy to the acting director of national intelligence. In his final job as the chief of staff at the Defense Department, The Washington Post’s David Ignatius wrote in 2021, Patel challenged the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, nearly becoming the acting director of the CIA. Of his stint under the DNI, Ignatius wrote that Patel effectively ran the place. In the last months of his presidency, Trump considered installing Patel as the FBI’s deputy director. That move was blocked by Attorney General William P. Barr. Barr reportedly told White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows that Patel would be deputy director “over my dead body.” Patel is a director on the board of Trump Media Technology Group, the company that owns Truth Social. He is active on the platform, frequently resharing Trump’s posts to his 1.35 million followers. He played a key role in the Nunes memo Patel served as an adviser to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-California) when Nunes chaired the House Intelligence Committee in 2017 and 2018. A memo written by Patel, claiming that the surveillance warrant targeting an adviser to the Trump campaign was flawed, quickly became the centre of a political firestorm. The Nunes memo, as it came to be known, said the application for a warrant to surveil Carter Page, a Trump foreign policy adviser in 2016, was based in part on information from a former British intelligence officer who allegedly was biased against Trump. The memo concluded that the warrant was invalid and, thus, the investigation into Trump regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election was tainted. He is a child of immigrants In his book “Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth and the Battle for Our Democracy,” Patel describes his parents as working-class Hindu immigrants from India. The family did not eat meat at home, he writes, describing weekly jaunts to the Jackson Heights neighbourhood in Queens with his father for butter chicken. He was drawn to becoming a doctor, like a “stereotypical Indian American,” he writes, but gave up after looking up medical school programs and coming across a group of golf-playing defence lawyers while caddying at the Garden City Country Club in Long Island. “Instead of being a first generation immigrant golf caddie, I could be a first-generation immigrant lawyer at a white shoe firm making a ton of money,” he wrote. Patel attended the University of Richmond and earned a law degree at Pace University in New York before working for nearly a decade as a public defender in Florida.MONTREAL — A childhood friend of the Quebec man killed in a Florida boat explosion earlier this week says one of the victim's sisters was among the other six passengers injured in the blast. Thi Cam Nhung Lê says she grew up with Sebastien Gauthier in Quebec City and considered him her best friend. Lê says Gauthier’s older sister was also on the boat in Florida's Broward County when it exploded and she was taken to a hospital. She says Gauthier’s family was in Florida to celebrate the holidays and that his sudden death feels “unimaginable.” Video posted on social media Monday shows the vessel engulfed in flames following the explosion, with a thick column of black smoke billowing into the sky. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has confirmed that Gauthier died of his injuries, saying a preliminary investigation shows the 37-foot vessel exploded after its engines were started. Lê remembers Gauthier as someone who was always smiling and says she is waiting for answers about what led to her friend’s death. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. Joe Bongiorno, The Canadian PressFCC throws open 6 GHz band to unlicensed low-power gizmos

Mater Dei’s Luke Barnett scores 55 points in basketball game, breaking Tom Lewis’ school recordEditor's Note: The Herald-Citizen newsroom staff compiled a summary of our most-read stories of 2024 based on page visits to our website. 1&2. Suicide reported on Tech campus Saturday, Nov. 2 The two most read stories of 2024 concerned the suicide of Tennessee Tech University junior Philip ‘Ethan’ Haynes on Nov. 2. According to the university, a then-unnamed student committed suicide on the campus’ A Street, between Dixie Avenue and North Peachtree Street in the hours before Tech’s homecoming parade. Three days later, Tennessee Tech President Phil Oldham informed the campus community of the student’s identity. Haynes, from Nashville, was a conservation biology major. He had married his wife, Desiree, in September. In a GoFundMe campaign set up to support Haynes’ family, he was described as “a beloved husband, son and friend.” The campaign has raised almost $6,500. 3. Cookeville man arrested after Walmart shooting, June 17 Ethan Chase Wilmoth, 26, was arrested by officers from the Cookeville Police Department June 15 after a shooting at the South Jefferson Avenue Walmart. Wilmoth was accused of firing at his uncle after an argument in the store’s parking lot. Wilmoth’s uncle was allegedly grazed by the bullet, which continued in the direction of the building. Wilmoth was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated reckless endangerment and unlawful possession of a firearm. The charges were dismissed by Putnam County General Sessions Judge Steven Randolph in August. 4. Six students score perfect 36 on ACT, Nov. 25 For perhaps the first time in Cookeville High School history, six students scored a perfect 36 on the ACT college entrance exam. Trace Anderson plans to attend Tennessee Tech and study civil engineering. Jonathan Hill and Peter Goodman are headed to Brigham Young University, where Hill plans to study software engineering and Goodman is considering photonics, the science and technology of light. Brayden Gallagher plans to major in history or political science on a pre-law track. Samuel Canfield plans to study mechanical engineering, and Katherine Smith is a current early decision applicant at Vanderbilt for applied mathematics. 5. One dead after early morning shooting, March 12 One person died in an early morning shooting in the parking lot at Hooligan’s Half Irish Pub March 12. According to the Cookeville Police Department, the body of 36-year-old Christopher Posey was found when officers responded. A press release said Posey suffered injuries “consistent with an apparent gunshot wound.” Authorities said the shooting seemed to be an isolated incident, and there was no reason to believe the public was in any danger. According to the CPD, the shooting is still under investigation. 6. Upper Cumberland Regional Airport handles first ever 737, March 21 The 737-400 was launched in 1985 to fill the gap between two other models of aircraft the Boeing Corporation made — the 737-300 and the 757-200. It has capacity to hold 188 passengers, but the Upper Cumberland airport has not yet been certified by the FAA to offer commercial passenger service, although efforts to offer commercial passenger service are underway. "The freight companies have reached out to us before, but this is the first time we've ever ground handled a 737," airport manager Dean Selby said. "They called ahead of time and said we need to pick up some freight and asked if (the airport) could handle it. We looked at the weights, and everything was fine." The aircraft landed at the 6,700-foot runway and was on the ground for just over an hour. Once it was loaded, the plane took off for a "just in time" delivery to Illinois. "We'll probably start seeing this a little more often," Selby said, noting that the 737 is "quieter than half the aircraft that we already handle." Typically, such aircraft have flown in and out of airports in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga or Smyrna. 7. Cookeville man faces drug charges after traffic stop, March 25 Jerred Ryan Griggs, 34, of Cookeville, was arrested on March 21, following a traffic stop by the Cookeville Police Department. According to a report by Officer Zachary Davidson, Griggs allegedly consented to a search of his vehicle, which yielded a container containing what was believed to by fentanyl, a cut straw and several small baggies. Griggs also consented to a search of his phone, where officers allegedly discovered evidence that Griggs was selling the fentanyl. Griggs’ case has been bound over to the Putnam County Grand Jury. His next court date is scheduled for Jan. 23. 8. Cookeville council votes to save Christmas parade, Oct. 24 After a week of controversy surrounding new rules regarding the Cookeville Christmas Parade, the city council announced that they would continue the tradition of the annual event. "We wanted to make sure there was a Christmas Parade, and we know that there has, to be honest, been some controversy of how it was going to move forward," Mayor Laurin Wheaton said at the time. "At the end of the day, I think this council wanted a Christmas parade. We want something for the community. And we have come together, and we are going to try this for this year." The council's decision came about a month after a group called the Cookeville Christian Christmas Parade, LLC began circulating a 12-page application form requiring parade participants to sign a "statement of faith." The annual parade had previously been organized through a committee with the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. Last year, for "safety reasons" that committee excluded the Upper Cumberland Pride group from participating in the parade, and the chamber president said that led to "malicious attacks" against her and the chamber, which led to the chamber officials' decision not to participate in the parade this year. The controversy sparked by the new parade rules led to the formation of another group, Cookeville Inclusive, whose members were in discussion to host an inclusive holiday parade. The Cookeville parade this year was scheduled for Dec. 14 but was ultimately postponed and then canceled because of windy and rainy weather conditions. Cookeville area churches hosted a Happy Birthday Jesus Party on Dec. 21 in the First Baptist Church parking lot with free food, bounce houses, train rides, balloon animals, live nativity and worship celebration with cake. 9. Arson suspected in early morning fire calls, Jan. 10 A Brush Creek man was arrested Jan. 10 after a series of fires were started at several Cookeville businesses early that morning. According to the Cookeville Fire Department, beginning at Chipotle on Interstate Drive, someone went to several businesses damaging gas meters and setting them on fire. Chief Benton Young said a quick response from firefighters kept the damage contained. In all, the CFD said damage was reported at Chipotle, Cheddars, Buffalo Wild Wings, Logan’s Roadhouse and Drake’s, where the alleged perpetrator was confronted by workers pressure washing the parking lot. 49-year-old Gary L. Collins was later arrested by the Cookeville Police Department and charged with vandalism and three counts of arson. His arrest warrant estimated he had caused approximately $20,000 worth of damages. Collins pleaded guilty in Putnam County Criminal Court Jan. 29. 10. Community mourns loss of Upperman student, Oct. 30 UHS Senior Cameron Kelly was killed Tuesday, Oct. 29, from injuries sustained in a car crash in Georgia. "Cameron will be remembered for his kind heart and infectious laugh," reads his obituary. "His larger-than-life personality drew people to him and allowed him to minister to those he loved when they were struggling or hurting. He shared his heart and his love for Jesus not just here, but all over the world."