Man Has "Mobile Manger" In Back Of His Pickup - License Reads "NATIVIT"

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It's been six years since Jack Ruckel first parked his Nativity scene outside the Tippecanoe County Courthouse during the holiday season, with its glowing lights clearly visible for blocks down Columbia Street.

And the Lafayette resident doesn't plan on stopping the display of life-sized Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus figures -- parked in the back of his Dodge Ram pickup truck -- anytime soon.

"It's gone on to be a tradition now," Ruckel said Thursday. "All year long, people come up to me -- 'Are you gonna do it this year?' I do it for those people. You get a lot of horns blowing down here."

Starting Wednesday, Ruckel parked his "mobile manger" outside the courthouse square. He'll be there from 6 to 9 p.m. each night through Dec. 25.

"Christmas day, too, I'll be here," Ruckel said, adding that he's never received a negative response from motorists. Instead, he said, supporters often drop by to offer coffee, snacks and money for gas.

Karen Noble of Lafayette says its hard to walk or drive by without noticing the Nativity scene.

"I admire his effort," Noble said as she left the Subway across the street.

http://www.lafayettejc.com/news20041217/200412174local_news1103261050.shtml

complete with lights. very cool cars - straight out of a Richard Scarry book.