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Five dollars for a four-wheel drive truck?

It could happen, say members of the Troup High Alumni Association. In fact, the odds of winning the truck in the raffle the group is sponsoring are better than the lottery, they say.

The winner will be chosen during a special barbecue fundraiser at the school on March 23. There also will be an antique car cruise-in that afternoon.

The association, incorporated in 2011 with about 25 members, has chosen its first project, an electronic message sign to be placed in front of the school at Hamilton Road.

But the group needs to raise about $50,000 to complete the project.

The sign will replace what the school is using now, a “flashing arrow” sign with removable letters. It’s hard to keep that sign up to date and the arrow doesn’t even flash.

The new one will be similar to the sign being erected at the Mike Daniel Recreation Center on Lafayette Parkway. It can be changed via computer from the inside every five minutes, were that ever to become necessary.

The sign will display school activities and sell advertising space – the alumni association will use the money from ad sales to fund scholarships for Troup High students.

“We really want the community to buy into the idea that we want to provide scholarships,” said James Stogner, a 1960 Troup High graduate. He and Ellis Cadenehead, (Troup High ‘61, and president of the alumni group) are spearheading the fundraising.

“We want to give something back to the community,” Cadenhead said.

The truck is a 1999 Chevrolet Z-71 Silverado. Tickets for the truck are being sold at the school and at other businesses around town, including at the LaGrange News at 105 Ashton St. The barbecue will be held at the school from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 23, with the drawing at 1 p.m. You don’t have to be there to win.

The alumni association also is selling engraved brick pavers to be placed in a walkway at the school. The bricks are $40 and information on the bricks also is available at the school.