Good morning, St. Cloud.

The Benton County Fair opens today in Sauk Rapids as craft displays were set up yesterday and animal judging was completed Monday — setting the stage for a busy day of events including a swine show, interactive farm lessons at the FFA Barnyard, live demos of the Jaws of Life and monster trucks, and music performances.

St. Cloud’s Rox Community Foundation awarded $15,000 in scholarships today to 15 high school seniors, each receiving $1,000 for achievements in art, athletics, automotive, disabilities, education, or volunteerism.

The panel selected the winners from a record 285 applications & recognized the growing talent among Minnesota students.

On Monday morning, a 10-year-old boy riding his bike was fatally struck by a car at Brenda Boulevard and Edgewood Street in Becker just before 8:00 a.m.—the sheriff said the driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.

A lithium-ion battery sparked a house fire in north St. Cloud at about 1:45 p.m. Sunday at a home on 9th Avenue North.

No injuries were reported - fire officials urged residents to charge batteries for yard tools and e-bikes in well-ventilated outdoor areas or garages.

St. Cloud police said 26-year-old Christopher Cortez Johnson-Caine from Sauk Rapids—whose blood alcohol level was .309 at the time of a deadly crash on July 2nd—died on July 16th, and the crash also killed Suleiman Mohamed Abdi and Craig Hennen.

A record number of scholarship applications overwhelmed the Rox Community Foundation this year—judges selected 15 high school seniors from over 280 entries in six categories including academics and trades.

Eden Valley-Watkins, Paynesville and Rocori schools each earned two awards.

A weekend of town ball games ended with nail-biting finishes—on July 23rd, the Elk River Lumberjacks edged the Monticello Polecats 10-9 and the Regal Eagles clinched the top regional seed with a 3-2 win over the Starbuck Stars.

Other games featured close results, including a 7-6 win by the Cold Spring Springers over the Chisago Lakes Bulldogs and a 13‐inning triumph by the Becker Bandits over the Clear Lake Lakers.

Butterfly Release Event

2:30–3:00 PM — Munsinger Gardens — Donations appreciated — Watch the beauty of butterflies take flight in a serene garden setting while supporting a great cause.

KC & the Sunshine Band with The Village People

7-8:30 p.m. — The Ledge Amphitheater — Ticket information available — Dance the night away to the infectious grooves of two legendary bands.

Summertime by George!

5:30-9 p.m. — Lake George Municipal Complex — Free entry — A festive evening featuring live country music and family-friendly activities.

I Am He Said - A Celebration Of The Music Of Neil Diamond

1:30-4:30 p.m. — Paramount Center for the Arts — Ticket prices vary — Celebrate the timeless classics of Neil Diamond with The Killer Vees, featuring beloved hits spanning five decades.