About 130 people jumped into Lake Kohlmier in Owatonna Saturday to benefit Special Olympics Minnesota. Several were taking the leap for the first time. But for many this an annual tradition. For Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson it was his 136th plunge. Steele County Sheriff Lon Thiele joined him to open the event with his seventh such plunge. Thiele will join Torgerson again for the Polar Plunge in Rochester February 9-10.
It's almost time to take the annual leap into frigid waters to help thousands of Special Olympics athletes across the state. For the third straight year Owatonna hosts a plunge.
I met nearly 175 people who are braver than I am on Saturday. Those fearless souls jumped into Owatonna's Lake Kohlmier to benefit Special Olympics Minnesota.
About 150 people signed up to jump in at the first Special Olympics Polar Plunge event at Lake Kohlmier. The event began at 1 p.m., and all participants had taken their turns a little more than a half-hour later.