Good morning, St. Cloud.

Menards will host its annual toy drive through November 15 — collecting new toys from its 341 stores — to help children in need, with donations going to local organizations.

The drive aims to brighten the season for kids throughout the Midwest.

Zonta Christmas House is set to turn a Sartell residence at 1408 Antler Creek Court into a holiday display on November 21st from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. and November 22nd from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.—local decorators and retailers will create festive settings while funds raised support efforts to stop violence against women.

Pet Evolution in St. Cloud is hosting a pet supplies drive through Nov.

30 to help families facing uncertain federal food assistance; the store accepts unopened pet food, treats, toys and leashes—donations will go to Catholic Charities and donors receive a 10% discount on same-day retail purchases.

Lentil, a sweet 4-year-old gray cat at TriCounty Humane Society in St. Cloud, is looking for a cozy home; she is spayed, chipped, and has urinary crystals that require special food and regular vet visits — she likes to sit in her cat tree and watch birds out the window.

Call the shelter at 320-252-0896 during business hours to schedule a meet-and-greet.

The Metro Vets are organizing the 19th annual Veterans Day Parade for this Saturday at 11 a.m. in downtown St. Cloud along a route starting at 9th Ave by Howie's and ending near River's Edge Convention Center— a Veterans Day Ceremony will be held on November 11th at 1:30 p.m. at Building 8 at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center.

In January 1996 in Kimball, Cheryl Burt lost her 15-month-old and 4-year-old sons when dangerous gas from unsafe heating filled her home without a carbon monoxide detector—her husband and 5-year-old son survived, and she now works to get free alarms and a new safety law to help other families.

Xcel Energy proposed to double battery storage to 600 megawatts at the Sherco Energy Hub near Becker and to add a 200-megawatt solar array at its Clear Lake site—if approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, construction will begin next year to boost total capacity to 910 megawatts by 2029.

The Ledge Amphitheater wrapped up a record-breaking 2025 season by hosting 20 events that drew over 61,000 fans — overcoming rain delays at the July 18th concert and proving strong community support.

General Manager Meredith Lyon said many new fans returned after an open house and that the venue will add more shows and surprises in 2026.

ROCORI FFA placed second in Milk Quality at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis + team member Ella Lahr won first individually, and the group, led by coach Kathy Ratka, earned a Gold rank and three-star status after advancing from the state competition earlier this year.

On November 7, northbound 10th Ave N will be reduced to one lane from 1st Street N to 1st Street S due to a local event — the restriction will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and again from 9:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Quiet Oaks Hospice House in St. Cloud is $4,000 short of its $250,000 goal to fund a Veterans Compassionate Care Fund by Veterans Day—Executive Director Linda Allen said matching funds and generous community donations have driven the effort, and they expect to meet the goal by Tuesday.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Month in November highlights that hospice care is not just for cancer patients—Linda Allen, executive director at Quiet Oaks Hospice House, said it supports anyone with a life-limiting illness by focusing on quality of life in various care settings. She also urged families to create advanced care plans to ensure support is available when needed.

St. Cloud State University and CentraCare will showcase local healthcare breakthroughs this Friday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Todd Steinke Auditorium at CentraCare SouthPoint—featuring virtual reality therapy and new research on pregnancy outcomes by neighborhood.

Local junior hockey had a busy weekend when the Granite City Lumberjacks stayed undefeated at 12-0 after wins against Alexandria and will face the Toros in Mason City on Friday night at 7:10 p.m. The Norsemen earned one point in overtime against Minotauros and will travel to Minot for a two-game series.

Granite City Train Show 2025

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. — St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center — Admission details not specified — Explore model trains, interactive exhibits, and family fun activities.

Stained Glass & Agate Mosaic Workshop

6-8 p.m. — Rock and Art Shop — Cost varies — Create your own beautiful glass and agate mosaic in a fun, colorful evening.

Zonta Christmas House 2025

2-8 p.m. — 1408 Antler Creek Ct — Entry fee supports a good cause — Explore stunning holiday décor while supporting women’s education and empowerment.

Cathedral's Winter Gala 2025

5-10 p.m. — The Park Event Center — $115 individual tickets, $1,500 for a table — Experience a vibrant evening filled with dining, entertainment, and a live auction supporting student programs.