Did You Hear?

‘Seabiscuit’ shows at the Palace this weekendOne of the year’s most popular movies will be showing at the Palace Theatre this weekend.Based on a true story from the 1930s, The Internet movie database describes "Seabiscuit" this way:"A half-blind ex-prizefighter (Toby Maguire) and mustang breaker (Chris Cooper) team up with a millionaire (Jeff Bridges) and his rough-hewn, undersized horse, Seabiscuit.The men bring Seabiscuit to incredible heights, helping him earn Horse of the Year honors in 1938."Every person I have talked to that has seen this movie raves about it.You don’t have to be a racehorse person to totally enjoy it.October 3, 4, 5"SEABISCUIT" at the Palace 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday 2 p.m Sunday matineeIf you’re going to have a heart attack, where should it be?Well, not in Mississippi. According to the sixth annual Health Grades Hospital Quality in America Study.The study showed that the quality of cardio care varied greatly from one part of the country to another.After ranking nearly 5,000 hospitals, on 26 common procedures and conditions, the study found the quality of care was significantly improved in northern and sparsely populated states.Although Minnesota came in a respectable 12th on the ranking, our neighboring South Dakota was 10th and the 1st place state in the nation was awarded to North Dakota.According to Samantha Collier, Health Grades vice president of medical affairs, the report shows that a person has a 55 percent increased chance of dying if he or she had a balloon angioplasty or other similar heart procedure done in Texas, rather than New York.For balloon and angioplasties, New York was the best performing state and Alaska was the worst.For more information on the survey, go to www.healthgrades.com.Do we have any famous trees in Rock County?It may seem like an odd concept, but the American Forest and Xcel Energy Corp. is sponsoring a Registrar of Famous and Historic Trees.According to a recent press release from Xcel Energy, a famous or historic tree is "A tree that elicits honking from passing motorists, a tree whose seedling came to the U.S. in a matchbox direct from Norway, or a tree named after a Civil War battle horse."Those are some examples of trees along with many others that have been added to the list of trees on the National Registrar of Famous and Historic trees.The list will be published in 2004.The group hopes to have between 50 and 100 nominees from Minnesota by the end of the process later this year.To qualify for inclusion on the list, the tree must have some of the following criteria:
It figures in local legend, lore or common perception.
The tree is located at or near the home of a person who played a role in national development or was recognized for writing, invention, life’s work or other significant contributions to the state and/or nation.
It is located at or near the site of a historical event that affected the lives or the citizens of the day, regionally or nationally.
It was planted by an individual or group of regional or national significance.
It has been depicted in sketches, journals, photographs or writings related to a historical event.Annie’s Mailbox gets response from LuverneRecently the new editors of Annie’s Mail Box, formerly the Ann Landers Column, took a survey about cheating spouses.In Tuesday’s column published in the Argus Leader, the two new editors wrote "Writing to us apparently was quite therapeutic, and it’s obvious you want to be heard. We learned a great deal from you, and we appreciate the education. Here’s more:"Of the 16 responses listed, one was from Luverne, Minn. The Luverne respondent wrote: "My ex-husband had several affairs. I am now married to a wonderful man, and I’ve told him that if I had been Mrs. Bobbitt, I’d have dropped that thing in the garbage disposal on my way out the door."Whoever our local writer is, she still seems to be holding some hostility inside.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com