Good morning, St. Cloud.

The annual Stearns County Polar Plunge will take place Saturday, Feb.

21 at noon at Avon Beach (next to Fisher’s Club) where participants will dip in Middle Spunk Lake to raise funds for Special Olympics Minnesota athletes. The event has raised $25,000 toward an $85,000 goal.

Stearns History Museum will host free Fix-It Clinics on Friday, March 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Rocori Senior Center and on Friday, May 29 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Handyman’s Hardware in St. Cloud, where skilled volunteers will mend items to help save money + reduce waste.

Kwik Trip will open 11 new stores in Minnesota this year, with locations debuting from July through December including Sauk Centre and Elk River where each site is expected to hire 30 to 40 employees.

Construction schedules may affect exact opening dates.

Great River Children’s Museum will host its Sip n’ Play: Play-lympics for adults 21-and-over on Friday, Feb.

13, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The $30 ticket includes a complimentary drink and game access, with proceeds supporting subsidized field trips at the museum.

Gas prices in Minnesota increased by 2 cents last week to an average of $2.64 per gallon due to seasonal demand, and experts say prices may continue rising as the season progresses.

New Minnesota farmers can apply for an equipment and infrastructure grant with awards up to $10,000 — an online info session is scheduled for February 19 at 11:00 a.m. hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Coffee Talk, a free phone line operated by Friends & Co. celebrating its fifth anniversary this month, connects adults 62 and older with trained volunteers every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon statewide, reducing isolation without appointments or registration.

Premiere Real Estate listed the historic Grande Depot for $3.4 million over the weekend, sparking local debate about its future use.

The building offers wood detailing plus spacious interiors, elevator access, and ample parking, which many see as ideal for retail, office, or gallery space.

Minnesota has 24 athletes on Team USA competing at the Winter Olympics in Italy.

Viewers can watch every event on Peacock & nightly recaps on NBC as medal rounds and finals run through Feb. 22.

Snowshoeing for Beginners Class

1-2:30 p.m. — Riverside Park — Free entry — Experience winter magic with expert-guided snowshoeing and hot chocolate by the fire.

Machine Knitting Camp 2026 - February Session

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. — Rocking Horse Farm — Registration required — Engage in a knitting machine retreat for all skill levels with hands-on learning and community fellowship.