Good morning, St. Cloud.

The Benton County Fairgrounds in Sauk Rapids will host the 10th Annual Handshakes With Heroes on Tuesday, Aug.

18, where kids can sit in a SWAT vehicle + meet local first responders in a free, family-friendly setting.

Xcel Energy Foundation is celebrating 25 years by investing $160M in Minnesota nonprofits.

Since 2001, it has supported 1,100 STEM job placements, planted 11,000 trees & logged 39,000 employee volunteer hours.

Bri's Lodge will host its 8th Annual Kruzin' for Bri's Lodge Car Show and Spaghetti Meal on Sunday, Aug.

30 to raise funds for grief support services; the event features a new Craft and Bake Sale and raffle tickets offering prizes like an Aventon Pace 4 Step-Through E-Bike — donors and attendees can help sustain these vital programs.

Friday at the Benton County Fair in Sauk Rapids, a tractor and semi pull began at 5:00 p.m. in the grandstand while guests savored sweet corn feed (at the Centrasota tent), admired egg shell mosaics, rode attractions, and enjoyed bingo before Mason Dixon Line performed at 8:00 p.m. on the Beer Garden Stage.

An analysis of 800 jobs shows 50 high-paying careers not needing a degree, with several healthcare roles leading — including Chief Medical Officer at an average salary of $216,096.

The Zippia report gives guidance to job seekers looking for high earnings without further education.

Families help students by donating backpacks at The Ledge Amphitheater’s drive through Aug.

31; drop-offs occur at the box office Fridays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donors get tickets to concerts on Aug. 15 with 38 Special and Chris Hawkey Band or Aug. 20 with Australian Pink Floyd Show.

Families new to Oak Ridge Early Learning Center in Sartell can meet interim principal Robert Geisenhof and tour classrooms, gym, cafeteria, and playground while enjoying grape, cherry, and orange popsicles on Wednesday, Aug.

12 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. The event welcomes incoming and undecided families before the school year.

Local officials are urging residents to conserve water as drought conditions persist in the Mississippi Headwaters watershed despite recent rains.

The city is working with the DNR — recommendations include reducing indoor and outdoor usage to protect drinking supplies.

Local officials remind residents that burning household trash in bonfires is illegal (fines up to $1,000 and up to three months in jail) under Minnesota law set in 1969, except for some farm households without trash pickup.

Residents should use only firewood to keep their bonfires safe.

Jalapeños linked to a salmonella outbreak were traced to a grower in Mexico and recalled by Coast Citrus Distributors, with several Minnesota residents among the 345 reported cases.

Food chains such as Chipotle and Qdoba removed the peppers from menus after the investigation.

The 4th Annual Golf Fore Awareness Tournament will be held on Monday, Aug.

10 at Wapicada Golf Course in Sauk Rapids to honor Eric Tenvoorde and raise funds for local mental health and addiction programs. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m.

Visitors can feed wolves using tongs during the Wild Wolf Connection at Pine Grove Zoo in Little Falls on Mondays as zoo staff share stories about the animals.

The event costs ($35 per person) and offers a unique chance for both kids and older adults to enjoy a close-up encounter.