Local News-Tuesday, Jan. 30th

Snowy conditions led to accidents on area roads Monday. It also uncovered several illegal immigrants. State police report that Juan Riscajche of Tamaqua was driving a van owned by Sharon Dover of Frackville, and was leaving the International Bedding Factory in West Mahanoy Township when he slid on the snow and crashed into another vehicle. After a brief search, police found that he was in this country illegally from Mexico. The second driver fled on foot. A second crash happened on Industrial Park Road, when an SUV operated by Robert Fisher of Mahanoy City was struck by a vehicle driven by an unknown Hispanic man. That man also fled the scene. Rush Township Police apprehended Arias-Jose Guadalupe of Hazleton, who was found running along Route 54, attempting to flee from International Bedding Corporation. Guadalupe is apparently in this country illegally, but worked at the factory. Both Riscajche and Guadalupe were detained at the state police barracks, awaiting a deportation hearing. There have been several instances of illegal immigrants being apprehended by police in the past week or two.

The case against a New York man, accused of attempted homicide in Tamaqua last year, will have to wait until the next court term. Judge John Domalakes of the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas issued an order to delay the hearing against Kareem Mills of Brooklyn, New York until April, after Mills requested a change of venue and/or jury in the case. Mills allegedly broke into the apartment of his ex-girlfriend in March, and fired shots. The Pottsville Republican reports that Mills was extradited to Schuylkill County after he fled to Brooklyn last year, and his court appointed attorney requested the extension. Domalakes ordered that Mills be released on bail back in November, since he was not tried within 180 days, according to Pennsylvania law. But, Mills has yet to be released because he has not verified a permanent address in Tamaqua, a condition for his release. Mills is charged with attempted homicide, assault, burglary and other offenses.

An apartment in Shenandoah is in shambles and another has structural damage after a car crashed into the building Monday afternoon. It happened just before 4 p.m. at the corner of East Centre and Bridge. The car went into the kitchen of an apartment on the first floor of the building. An elderly couple lives in the apartment. The woman, who uses a wheelchair, had just finished doing dishes and gone into another room when the crash happened. She and her husband were not hurt. Another family on the second floor were also home, but not injured. The American Red Cross is helping both families. There is no word if the driver was hurt. Police are investigating the crash.

A Pottsville man was not hurt following a one car crash yesterday in Wayne Township. 19-year-old Kevin O’Connor was traveling on Front Street, near Route 443 yesterday afternoon when he lost control on a left curve. The car hit an embankment and rolled over, coming to rest on its wheels. O’Connor was wearing his seatbelt and was not hurt. His Dodge Neon was heavily damaged.

A Port Carbon man was arrested for drunk driving early Saturday. Port Carbon police now say that they observed 30-year-old Francis Letcavage driving erratically in the area of Mill and Main Street. When he was stopped, they found he was driving with an expired registration, license and inspection and was under the influence. He failed a sobriety test, and had a blood alcohol level of .14. Letcavage will be charged through a summons. The stop happened around 1am Saturday.

Now that we’ve reached the end of January, a new law is now in effect for drivers in Pennsylvania. The intent of the law is to increase visibility during inclement weather. Representative Joe Markosek, Majority House Transportation Committee Chair that the law was written to make the rule easier to remember during inclement weather rather than requiring headlight use based on distance traveled. Violations of the wiper-light law includes a fine and cost of $100. Another traffic law deals with completely cleaning your vehicle of snow and ice during winter weather. The fines range from $200 to $1,000 dollars, if someone is injured from flying snow or ice on moving vehicles.