BELLE — Mice will fill the Belle-Bland Community Center on 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, attendees may bring refreshments.

Tom, The Mouse Guy, will bring his race track to Belle. Six mice will race each round, with 10 rounds plus the option to purchase a mouse roulette card.

Rules of the game include:

• Choose a mouse/mice and place a bet.

• Winner receives 50 percent return of the bet.

Rules for mouse roulette: Attendees can buy a card chance on the roulette wheel, and if the mouse lands on the card, the winner receives 50 percent of the proceeds.

Tables for up to eight people are available for $100 or $15 per individual. 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 for $100 each. Additionally, 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, Padgett’s 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 at 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 2025 is here.

As of Dec. 31, 2024, the Community Scholarship fund is valued at $172,652 and is endowed. In May, $5,000 in scholarships will be awarded to Belle High School (BHS) graduating seniors.

Additionally, there are 12 other scholarship funds in the Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) portfolio that benefit BHS graduating seniors. In May, $45,000 in scholarships, including the Maries R-2 Community Scholarship, will be awarded to 2025 graduates.

Jan Sassmann retired in October 2024 from the Scholarship Foundation Committee after 15 years, during many of which she served 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 to 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 documentation is available.