Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

BELLE— Mice will fill the Belle-Bland Community Center on Friday, March 28, as the Maries County R-2 Schools Scholarship Foundation Committee will host its annual fundraiser. Tables and race sponsorships are still available. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with racing to begin at 6:30 p.m. No food or beverages will be sold, so bring your own refreshments. 

Tom, The Mouse Guy, will bring his race track to Belle. Six mice will race each round, with 10 rounds. Those in attendance place bets on their favorite mice; and receive 50 percent of their bet back, if their mouse wins. There will be 10 separate races. There will also be mouse roulette. Attendees can buy a card chance on the roulette wheel, and if the mouse lands on their card, you win 50% of the proceeds. 

Tables for up to eight people are available for $100. Cost for an individual is $15. Paid-in-advance reservations are recommended as only 16 tables are planned. For table reservations, contact Vicki at 573-578-7916.

There are still a few race sponsorships available. Two businesses share a race at $100 each. Each sponsor gets to name three mice in their race. Sponsors, so far, include Shelter Insurance-Tonya Jacquin Agency, Legends Bank, Brown Construction, Tiger Den Fitness, Erica Smith Real Estate, Padgetts Bar and Grill, Rodgers Auto Body, Sassmann’s Funeral Home, American Realty, Next Door Designs, CMEC, Myrtle Mae’s Beauty, Trainor & Sons, Dependable 28 Auto Sales and White Auto Glass. To sponsor a mouse race, contact Jesse, 573-201-6243.

The scholarship foundation committee will also sell chances on lottery boards and host a live auction with Auctioneer Drew Busch. The live auction will include a variety of items donated by foundation committee members, local residents and businesses. Donations are still being accepted. Proceeds will benefit the Maries County R-2 School Foundation Community Scholarship fund.

The foundation scholarship committee also hosted mouse races in 2023.

The long-term goal of the Community Scholarship fund is to award a scholarship to every college-bound Belle High School graduating senior in 2025 and beyond. 2025 is here. As of Dec. 31, 2024, the Community Scholarship fund is valued at $172,652. That scholarship is endowed, and in May, $5,000 in scholarships will be awarded to BHS graduating seniors. Additionally, there are 12 other scholarship funds in the Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) portfolio that benefit BHS graduating seniors. Some $45,000 in scholarships, including the Maries R-2 Community Scholarship, will be awarded to 2025 graduates in May.

In October 2024, Jan Sassmann retired from the Scholarship Foundation Committee, after some 15 years of services with most of those serving as president. 

“It was surely a pleasure on my part,” Sassmann said. Tasha Busch, formerly the secretary, became president. 

For those who are not able to attend and would like to make a donation, there are a couple of ways you can donate:

• Write a check, payable to Maries County R-2 Schools Foundation Community Scholarship, and mail it to Bonnie Prigge, MRPC, 4 Industrial Drive, St. James, MO;

• Donate securely online at Community Foundation of the Ozarks at :

https://cfozarks.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2405&sorg_id=1033

Donations are tax-deductible, and you will receive documentation for tax purposes.

##

Cutlines: Scenes from the 2023 Mouse Races:

#1—Guests place bets on their favorite mice during the 2023 Mouse Race Fundraiser.

#2—Six mice race in each round in this track.