Missing CS Grad Found 30 Years After Disappearance
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FREE but priceless Presorted Standard US Postage Paid Permit No. 81 Cedar Springs, MI The SHOWCASING CEDAR SPRINGS & Reaching around the world ~ www.cedarspringspost.com Vol. XXX No. 1P Thursday, January 5, 2017 STServing Northern Kent County and parts of Newaygo and Montcalm Counties New hats Radon kits New Year, New You Sports/Outdoors CSPS school news page 2 page 3 pages 8-9 page 10 page 11 Missing CS grad found 30 years Fundraiser to after disappearance help pastor’s By Judy Reed U.S. Army in 1975, and received an honorable discharge in 1979. Eventual- A former Cedar Springs family re- ly, Chuck moved to Battle Creek, where leader dog ceived some bittersweet closure last week he found employment. Rachel said that on a 30-year-old mystery: where was he had a few friends from high school he their son and brother, Chuck Cornell? kept in touch with, and that he also had And it was DNA samples from the family a girlfriend in Battle Creek. But as time that helped police solve the mystery. went by, the family heard from him less Charles Cornell, a 1974 graduate of and less. Cedar Springs High School, was the son So, on Chuck’s 30th birthday, in April of Pastor Richard and Hattie Cornell. of 1986, his parents drove to Battle Creek Richard was pastor at Calvary Assembly to see him. But what they found was an of God, then located in Rockford. Ac- empty apartment that looked as if it had cording to Chuck’s sister, Rachel Valkeo, been vandalized. Chuck was the third child in a family of Rachel said that other news articles Charles “Chuck” Cornell graduated from Cedar six siblings. have reported that the last time they saw Springs High School in 1974. He disappeared from his Battle Creek apartment in 1986. “He was quiet, liked baseball and nice Chuck was at his 30th birthday party. cars,” remembered Rachel, who is a “That party never happened,” she said. that their son was missing. And for 30 years, younger sibling. She said some might re- “They drove down to see him for his the family thought police were looking for member him working at Great Day while birthday—but he wasn’t there.” him, just like they were. But they weren’t. in high school. Richard and Hattie reported the empty Instead, they found out that law enforcement After graduation, Chuck joined the apartment and vandalism to police and GRAD - continues on page 5 Pastor Darryl Miller with his leader dog, Rowdy. January 14 at Sand Lake United byMethodist Judy Reed Church Crash sends three to hospitalAlcohol may be responsible for a crash in Cannon Township that sent When Darryl Miller decided to become a pastor 10 years three people to the hospital the night ago, he knew it wouldn’t be an easy road to navigate. Being before New Year’s Eve. legally blind, he would need help from his family—includ- According to the Kent County Sher- ing wife Shari, and daughters Heather and Kelli—and his iff Department, the crash occurred on congregation. But one of the most important helpers and Cannonsburg Road, east of Blakely, companions to Darryl has been his leader dog, Rowdy, an just after 8 p.m. on Thursday, Decem- 11-year-old beautiful black lab. And now Rowdy is facing ber 30. Police said that a Dodge Ram his own health issues. truck was headed westbound on Can- Rowdy has been helping Miller gets where he needs to go nonsburg Rd, and witnesses reported since 2007, which includes pastoring both Sand Lake Unit- that it crossed the center line several ed Methodist and South Ensley United Methodist Church- times. It finally swerved all the way es. “He’s been with me from the beginning. Rowdy’s been over the centerline into oncoming to seminary and through all of my pastoral training. He’s (eastbound) traffic and struck a 1996 older now, and we are trying to retire him but he just won’t GMC Sierra head on. go,” said Miller with a chuckle. The driver of the Dodge Ram, Da- “If I put my shoes on in my office, he’d hear it even Photo from Woodtv8.com. mion James Nelmark, 39, of Spencer though he’s on the couch in the other part of the house, and he would be there waiting to go out the door. He just wants Alcohol may have been a factor in this two-vehicle crash in Cannon Twp. last week. CRASH - continues on page 5 to go. He still does his job.” Rowdy has been through several surgeries to fix a fistu- la—a hole in the roof of his mouth that opens into his nose. Time for winter Miller said the hole is about the size of a quarter, making it hard for the dog to eat and drink well. According to PetMD, an oronasal fistula can be caused fun by injury, infection or disease. “It’s not terribly uncommon It’s that time of year again, when kids of all ages love to for a dog to get a hole in his mouth by running outside and play in the snow. It might be building a snowman, having running into a stick,” explained Miller. “But we don’t know a snowball fight, making snow angels, building a fort, go- how it happened. He did have an abscessed tooth, and we ing sledding, or just plain eating it! In this photo, Autumn don’t know if that caused it or if it caused the abscessed Passage, 7, and her sister Meadow, 3, are playing in their tooth.” backyard with the beautiful Cedar Creek glistening in the Rowdy has undergone five surgeries to fix the problem, background. The photo was submitted by their mom, Steph- but every one has failed. And the costs keep piling up. “We anie Passage. recently found out the jawbone was infected as well, and If you have winter photos you’d like us to consider for that’s why the surgeries failed,” explained Miller. He said publication, email them to [email protected] Rowdy was put on a 10-week course of heavy-duty antibi- with “winter fun” in the subject line. We publish them as otics to clear it up. The veterinarian—Dr. Moore, in Spring space allows, and do not guarantee publication. LEADER - continues on page 5 Page 2 The Cedar Springs Post Thursday, January 5, 2017 American Legion MSP 131st Trooper Recruit welcomes state Forty-oneSchool become Graduates State Police Troopers, debut new Campaign hats Forty-one new Michigan commanders and State Police (MSP) troopers reported for work at MSP posts across the state last presidents week following graduation from the 131st Trooper Re- The American Legion Post cruit School on December #287 in Cedar Springs is proud 22. Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, to welcome the State Com- director of the MSP, admin- manders and Presidents to our istered the Oath of Office home for the annual Early Bird during the ceremony at the Dinner. The dinner is held the Lansing Center. first week in January to show “As these new troopers our appreciation to the mem- travel home to be with their bers of our Post, Auxiliary and American Legion Commander loved ones for the holidays, Sons of the American Legion for Michigan, Larry Money. they can leave proud know- who have paid their dues by ing they have what it takes Veterans Day of the previous to join the ranks of the elite fall. It is our tradition to in- Michigan Department of vite the leaders of our state to now part of our department’s tics, patrol techniques, re- attend this event. It is also our history and you will help de- port writing, ethics, first aid, tradition to give them each a set termine its future. I expect criminal law, crime scene of Red Flannels. In the past it you to do what’s right, to do processing and precision was given to prepare them for your best and to treat others driving. the Upper Peninsula trip which the way you want to be treat- In order to be selected to usually follows directly after ed. In everything you do, I attend the academy, all appli- our dinner, in an attempt to keep ask that you provide ‘Service cants had to pass a stringent them warm during the cold and often snowy conditions of the With a Purpose.’” selection process that includ- American Legion Auxiliary Tpr. Thomas Gladney III ed a physical fitness test, UP in January. President, Ellen Jackson. was elected Class Orator background investigation This year the American Le- by his fellow recruits and and hiring interview. gion Commander for the State spoke on behalf of the grad- As part of the department’s of Michigan is Larry Money. uating class at the ceremo- commitment to “Providing He was elected and installed as Troopers are wearing MSP’s new Campaign hats, a nod to what en- Commander at the 2016 Annu- forcement members wore until the early 1920s. ny. Other award recipients Service With A Purpose,” the included Tpr. Brett Nichols, recruits participated in com- al Summer Convention held in State Police,” stated gradu- on whether the department who received the Academ- munity outreach projects in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan, ation keynote speaker, Gov- should make the uniform ic Achievement Award and which they donated food to June 23-26. Larry is from Post ernor Rick Snyder. “We wish change for its 100th Anniver- Team Building Award; Tpr.