Tell that to the folks who wrote the AP story (link in first post), complete with names of the town, the "mouse-tosser," and the local fire chief.   
I can't vouch for the story myself, but it's not just one of those detail-deprived generic stories that often spread around the net.

(Of course, maybe the mouse was from Nigeria and his heirs could inherit his secret fortune, if only you'd send in a mere $500 to help them access his Swiss account. Or something like that.) ;-D

Anyway, LadyJean, it's your turn to wax poetic!

Genie