'Carnage on the Courts' set

Basketball players and wrestlers from Mountain Home High School will face off against each other during next week's fundraiser.

Class competitions and friendly rivalries will take center stage next month as Mountain Home High School presents "Carnage on the Courts."

Scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. April 10 in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium, the battles will help secure bragging rights for the wizards of the hardwood or the masters of the mat.

Doors open to the public at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and students without activity cards, $3 for seniors and students who have activity cards and $2 for students up to sixth grade. Tickets are also available for $15 for families of four or more people.

Volunteers will also serve baked potatoes with an assortment of toppings as well as nachos, hot dogs, chili, popcorn, baked goods and assorted beverages as the carnage is unleashed in the gym. Food is available on a donation basis.

Proceeds from the event and food sales will benefit the high school's senior celebration committee. Continuing a tradition hosted by the parents of each graduating class since 1984, the event offers what organizers call an alcohol-free, drug-free, safe, sane and fun party the night of graduation.

Carnage on the Courts is one in a series of fundraising events hosted by the all-volunteer committee.

In March, the group raised approximately $600 during the first of its major fundraisers. The organization hosted a dinner theater in conjunction with the high school theater company's presentation of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." In addition to serving the spaghetti dinner, committee representatives also sold various desserts on a donation basis.

With just over two months left in the school year, parents of Mountain Home High School's graduating class continued to organize other fundraisers to cover the costs associated with the senior celebration event. Typically, the parents of each graduating class need to raise about $20,000 to offset the costs associated with the scheduled activities, food and other expenses.

The spirit of friendly competition returns to Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium at 7 p.m. April 24 as the senior celebration committee hosts a community dodgeball tournament. The event is open to local businesses, government and private organizations, civic groups and students.

During a recent meeting, the senior celebration committee agreed to change the team entry fees to $10 for student teams and $20 for adult teams.

Fundraising activities planned for May include a car wash at Snappy Hot Wash on American Legion Boulevard. In addition, the committee plans to host a dinner and dessert event as part of this year's high school jazz band concert.

Meanwhile, the celebration committee is hosting a series of raffles, featuring gifts donated by parents and local businesses.

Among them include drawings for a .20 gauge Remington 870 Express Junior shotgun and a Hoyt Charger bow. Tickets are $10 each and limited to 200 for each weapon.

The drawings for both weapons are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 7 at the high school. For tickets and more information, call Tom Parkinson at 598-2058.

Over the next few weeks, committee representatives will hold 50/50 drawings during the Mountain Home Tigers home baseball games as well as the school's track and field home events.

In 2012, approximately 130 students representing last year's graduating class attended the senior celebration. Many of them brought up to two guests to the party.

Senior celebration organizers continue to invite parents and others in the community to join their planning committee. Their next meetings start at 6:30 p.m. on April 9 and 16 (both Tuesdays), at Lucky Perk on American Legion Boulevard.

For more information on this year's senior celebration fundraisers or to get involved, call committee president Lorena Ryan at 1-208-695-6677 or the high school at 587-2570. People may also reach the group via e-mail at mhhs2013srcelebration@gmail.com. The committee will also post updates on its Facebook page at MHHS-2013-Sr-Celebration.