A Luverne connection on Oscar nightDavid Okarski and his wife, Diane Corwin, watched the Academy Awards closely Sunday night, and for good reason. A film about the life of Diane’s father was one of the nominees.David, a 1968 LHS grad, is the son of the late Joe and Ruth Okarski, Luverne, and he and his wife are currently residents of Portland, Oregon.The film about Diane’s father, in the documentary short category, is titled, "A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin."According to David, Diane’s father was a writer, director and producer whose poetic work "On a Note of Triumph," broadcast on V-E Day, is synonymous with the pinnacle of the art of radio during its golden age.Better yet, the film won, with Noma Films Production, Corinne Marrinan and Eric Simonson receiving Oscars for the work.According to a Web site dedicated to Corwin’s life, "Norman Corwin celebrated his 95th birthday on May 3, 2005, and today lives in Los Angeles, keeping busy as always. He is still writing for radio and teaches a journalism class at USC. He writes articles for various publications and is active in several organizations in and around the Los Angeles area.If you would like to know more about the life and career of Norman Corwin, go to www.normancorwin.com. Free trees are available — with a contributionIt’s that time of year again when the National Arbor Day Foundation would like you to join in exchange for some trees.This year, 10 free white pine trees will be given to each person who joins the National Arbor Day Foundation during March 2006.The fast-growing trees can be used for a privacy screen, windbreak or even a sheared hedge.The trees will be shipped to your home at the right time for planting, between March 1st and May 31st.The six-to-twelve-inch trees are guaranteed to grow, or they will be replaced free of charge.If you’re interested, send $10 by March 31st to Ten Free White Pines, National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, Nebraska 68410. Or you can go online at www.arborday.org. Weight restrictions are now in effectEffective Wednesday, March 8th, spring weight restrictions became effective.According to Rock County Engineer, Mark Sehr, the starting dates and ending dates are determined by how the strength of the roadways is affected by the weather.The roadways’ strengths are monitored as the weather conditions change.When the restrictions come off will be determined by what kind of a spring we have.When the county engineer let’s us know they’re coming off, we’ll let you know.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com