Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
More than 25 years ago, a 6-year-old Tara Puckett underwent open heart surgery due to complications from Williams Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder.
At the time, doctors were skeptical as to whether Tara could survive the procedure, and motor and communications skills were feared to be lost. But Tara recovered from the surgery quickly and was walking and talking in what the doctors believed to be miraculous time.
Last month, she was hired at North Pointe Cinema, after making a phone call inquiring about a job. Her mother, Susan, was still looking for an interview coach for her daughter when she heard about the hiring.
And Tuesday, Tara announced she and her mother will participate in the Walk-A-Mile program with State Rep. Bill Ruppel, where all three will accompany each other throughout day-to-day activities for one month.
The program traditionally pairs a low-income resident with a public policy maker to educate each through real-life experiences. In Tara's situation, both she and her mother decided to try out the program together.
Tara said she wants to learn more of the legislative process, and both she and her mother hope Ruppel will soon better understand the hardships of food stamp regulations.
"I'm hoping this program will get us somewhere," Susan said. "Because you want to have the same choices as everyone else. We want to better understand what the problem is and how we can fix that problem."
Both Ruppel and Tara agreed to have weekly phone conversations and the two will travel to Indianapolis to introduce Tara to state policy makers and their procedures inside the Capitol Building.
"I'm really looking forward to learning about legislation, the Senate and democracy," Tara said.
And with the success she's seen both recently and in the past, she didn't hesitate to announce her future intentions.
"Someday I want to be a candidate," she said. "I'd like to run for president."
