How much garbage does cleanup collect?Luverne had another successful cleanup campaign last month.According to Kathy Gyberg, who collected the data at City Hall, between April 24-26 the city picked up 87.79 tons of junk from our collective curbs during the program.The exact number of recyclables was not known because those are given to the Ketterlings, but according to Gyberg, throughout the past year Luverne recycled 312 loads of recyclable materials, with each load weighing from 1200 to 2000 pounds.Speaking of recycling …When it comes to recycling, Minnesota is one of the best, according to BioCycle magazine and the Columbia University’s Earth Engineering Center.Minnesota recycles 43 percent of its trash, second only to Oregon, which bests us by 2 points at 45 percent.The Minneapolis Tribune reported Minnesota’s 730 curbside pickup programs provide 75 percent of its residents easy access to recycling.That number puts us third in the country behind New York with 1,500 and Pennsylvania with 974.Local health organizations sponsor fitness daySioux Valley Hospital Luverne, Home Medical Equipment and the Rock County Pool and Fitness Center are sponsoring Senior Health and Fitness Day on Wednesday, May 31st.Various events will take place at all three locations.The events will start at the Luverne Pool and Fitness Center at 8 a.m. with aqua aerobics, followed by weight training techniques for seniors and then "Body in Motion" aquatic classes.An introduction to the pool and fitness center facilities along with free use of the facilities will be offered all day.At the Senior Citizen Center blood glucose testing, blood pressure checks and free chair massages will begin at 10 a.m.At Sioux Valley Home Medical Equipment coffee and cookies will be served all day, along with demonstrations on various medical devices.For more information contact the Sioux Valley Wellness Department at 283-2321, ext. 243.Quality hospital reportsThey are now only a click away.Last month a new Web site went active that will provide healthcare consumers with information about hospital quality of care for three medical conditions: heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia.All three are considered common and costly causes of hospitalization.The Minnesota Hospital Quality Report can be found on the Web at www.mnhospitalquality.orgThe hospitals voluntarily report their data to be posted on this Web site, which informs consumers how often hospitals provide the recommended care to adults for the three medical conditions.Some measures reported include: whether a heart attack patient was given aspirin upon arrival at the hospital, if a blood test was taken on a patient with pneumonia, or if a patient received an assessment of his or her heart function.The site provides one year of information at a time and is updated every quarter.The project is a joint effort of the Minnesota Hospital Association and Stratis Health, a steering committee comprised of Minnesota hospital representatives.In the fall of 2006 information on hospital specific performance on surgical infection prevention measures will be added.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com