Last Friday at 10 a.m., a local fisherman contacted the Chatham Sheriff’s Office in Pittsboro and said he had found the body of a young man floating in the water of Jordan Lake near the Roberson Creek boat ramp off Hanks Chapel Road.

According to Major Gary Blankenship of the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, a Criminal Investigation Division (CID) team from the Sheriff’s Office immediately went to the site. They had the body transported to a medical examiner.

Authorities found a pair of trousers, two shirts, a cell phone, and also a pair of shoes and socks floating in the water nearby.

The young man was wearing shorts when he was found. Investigators concluded that he had left his clothing on the bank, that he had probably died from drowning at least two days earlier, and that his clothing had floated into the lake when the water in the lake rose to a new level from heavy rainfall.

The Sheriff’s Office was able to identify the body by late Friday night or early Saturday morning, said Blankenship, because the team found a Townshend Poultry Plant I.D. card in the trousers.

The man was identified as 27-year-old Rosalio Ramirez Cardona of 601 East 4th Street, Siler City. He worked at the poultry plant and had relatives in Siler City, as well as a girlfriend in Sanford. All were contacted by the Sheriff’s Office by the end of the day Saturday, Blankenship said.

An autopsy was conducted by the medical examiner on Friday to determine if there was any evidence of foul play but the results were unavailable prior to the newspaper’s press deadline.

Blankenship said the Sheriff’s Office will investigate the case further if the autopsy indicates that the man’s death was caused by anything other than drowning.

"So far we have no reason to believe that Cardona died for any reason other than drowning," Blankenship said. "But we’re still waiting to get the medical examiner’s full report."

Fire engulfs camper, vehicle and boat . . .

Chatham County district attorney Jim Woodall will not decide if anyone will be charged in connection with an automobile accident in which a local teenager lost her life.

The accident investigation has been turned over to Moore County District Attorney Maureen Kruger, according to Major Bill Harman of the Siler City Police Department.

"The Chatham County District Attorney’s Office has requested that the Moore County Office handle the situation with the Pore-Roper wreck," Harman said.

On April 26, 18-year-old Ashley Nicole Pyrtle of Siler City, was riding in a car driven by Hagan Pore, who was turning left onto West Eighth Street from North Dogwood Avenue as another vehicle driven by Taylor Roper was traveling south on North Dogwood Avenue.

At approximately 10:33 p.m., the vehicles collided.

Pyrtle died at the scene.

more- See Thursday, May 15,  2008 paper: Vol 88, No.23

Fire dealt a Chatham County auto repair business a serious blow last Thursday – destroying a garage and nearly all the equipment inside — but the owner of the business said he plans to rebuild and continue operations.

Kevin Cieciorka, owner of Chatham County Towing and Alignment off US 15-501 south of Pittsboro, said the fire that erupted at his shop last Thursday destroyed his garage and 95 percent of his equipment.

The fire began at approximately 5:30 p.m. after Cieciorka had closed shop and left for the evening.

Pittsboro Fire Department Chief Daryl Griffin said the cause of the fire, which he said was not suspicious in nature, has not been determined

In addition to the structure and the contents, Cieciorka said fire destroyed one of his wreckers as well a motor home and a motorcycle belonging to customers.

"The silver lining is I had enough sense to have the proper insurance to cover my losses," Cieciorka said. "But it is a major financial loss. I’m still going to end up losing, but I’ve got something to work with. I’m not completely down and out."

The Pittsboro Relay for Life will take place May 16 and 17 at Northwood High School.

As of Monday, 159 people had signed up for event, raising so far $10,716 for the fight against cancer.

Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society’s signature event, is a fun-filled overnight experience designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer. At Relay, people from within the community gather to celebrate survivors, remember those lost to cancer, and to fight back against this disease.

Relay participants help raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society in its mission to eliminate cancer as a major health issue. During Relay For Life events, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns walking or running laps.