KTBB News, Weather, Talk

HENDERSON — Our news partners at KETK report that a 33-year-old man was arrested on Monday after authorities say he attempted to meet what he believed was a child during an undercover sting in Henderson County. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said Oscar Campos, of Kerens, had been communicating online and by phone with an undercover official posing as a minor. Campos allegedly traveled to an Athens Walmart expecting to meet the child, but when he tried to get into a vehicle, he was confronted by a task force investigator. Campos attempted to flee but was apprehended. He was booked into the Henderson County Jail on charges of online solicitation of a minor for sexual conduct and evading arrest or detention. Henderson County officials said they remain committed to identifying and arresting individuals who pose a threat to children. The case remains under investigation and additional charges are possible.

SMITH COUNTY – A fatal crash involving two vehicles on Toll 49 is currently under investigation by Smith County authorities. According to Smith County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Andy Dunklin and our news partner KETK, the collision occurred around 12:30 a.m. about a quarter-mile east of Highway 155. Two people have been confirmed dead, and another remains in critical condition. Texas Department of Public Safety officials are continuing their investigation and working to notify affected families.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Deputies responded to a deadly conduct call on CR 2194 near Whitehouse around 1:00 Sunday afternoon. According to officials, Luis Arredondo-Villalobos was waving and pointing a firearm at his neighbors. Deputies were able to speak with several individuals who were able to confirm the behavior of Arredondo-Villalobos and his intoxicated state. Deputies also contacted the brother of Arredondo-Villalobos who confirmed the presence of firearms inside the residence.

Deputies attempted to coax Arredondo-Villalobos out of his residence by using the PA speakers but were unsuccessful. Smith County SWAT responded to the location and continued to try and coax the suspect out of his residence. Continue reading Smith County man arrested on aggravated assault charge

TYLER — The former bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tyler, Joseph E. Strickland, is set to appear Tuesday at a Grassroots America – We the People meeting, a prominent constitutional conservative organization based in East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, the event, titled “Closing Out 2025 with Conviction, Hope, and Perseverance,” will be held at the Holiday Inn in Tyler. A food-and-fellowship buffet is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 6:25 p.m., with the meeting set to run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Organizers say book signings and additional speakers may continue until 9 p.m.

Strickland’s appearance marks one of his most public returns to the East Texas community since his removal as head of the Diocese of Tyler on Nov. 11, 2023. Continue reading Former bishop to speak at Grassroots America

RAINS COUNTY — The criminal case against Rains County Judge Linda Wallace has been dismissed, according to newly released documents from the Rains County District Clerk’s Office and our news partner KETK.

The dismissal comes after months of developments connected to the investigation and prosecution of Rains County Justice of the Peace Jenkins Franklin. A full timeline of events is below:

MAY 1: Rains County Justice of the Peace Robert Jenkins Franklin was arrested and charged with official oppression and witness tampering. According to a federal lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Rains County Justice of the Peace Robert Jenkins Franklin allegedly threatened a defendant to plead guilty in a case over which Franklin had no jurisdiction. Continue reading Charges dropped against another Rains County judge

TYLER – Thanks to the Texas Resilient Landscapes Initiative, Texas landowners can now earn up to $80,000 by reforesting their land. Landowners with 10 to 150 acres of land are being invited by the initiative to reforest their land through a number of different methods including: shredding or mulching for tree planting at $168.75 per acre, prescribed fire burns at $37.50 per acre, direct seeding of trees at $337.50 per acre, planting live cuttings at $375 per acre, planting bareroot or containerized seedlings at $5.60 per seedling and providing temporary browsing protection for seedlings at $4.90 per seedling.

Non-federal, non-industrial and tribal or local government forest landowners can apply to the initiative by Jan. 23, 2026 and another application period will open in the summer or fall of 2026.

To apply or learn more, visit the Texas A&M Forest Service online.

ALBA — Alba-Golden ISD has announced its new regulations after Senate Bill 8, also known as “Bathroom Bill,” went into effect on Dec. 4. According to our news partner KETK, to meet these new regulations, the school district said locker rooms will be designated “NON-PRIVATE” during specific times: 15 minutes before the start of pregame activities, 8 minutes during halftime, 10 minutes after the conclusion of a game and 20 minutes after the conclusion of a practice.

The school district stated that this will enable coaches to manage their responsibilities with teams, such as during pregame, halftime and postgame meetings, while respecting students’ privacy.

Commonly referred to as the Texas Women’s Privacy Act or the “Bathroom Bill,” Senate Bill 8 seeks to limit transgender individuals’ access to specific restrooms in the state. Continue reading Alba-Golden ISD announces ‘non private’ lockers

BULLARD — The suspect in Monday’s hour long Cherokee County SWAT standoff is dead. According to our news partner KETK, the suspect is identified as 53-year-old Shawn Turner Sr. of Bullard, who was firing a gun from the front porch of his home. When deputies responded, Turner allegedly opened fire immediately, wounding one deputy with shrapnel. Deputies returned fire but did not strike Turner, the sheriff’s office confirmed. At around 11:10 a.m., authorities entered the home and found Turner dead from what officials determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The injured deputy was treated at the scene by EMS and is expected to make a full recovery. A second deputy experienced a medical issue during the incident and was assessed by medical personnel; that deputy is also anticipated to return to duty within the week.

Nearby law enforcement activity caused all Bullard ISD campuses to go into a brief secure status that was lifted at around 11:20 a.m.

KEMP – A 54-year-old Kemp man was arrested on Saturday after the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said they found suspected methamphetamines during a search of his RV according to our news partners at KETK. At around 11:39 p.m. on Saturday, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office investigators and deputies executed a search warrant on a recreational vehicle parked in the 1300 block of Pritchett Lane in Kemp. Rodney Blake Bryant, 54 of Kemp, allegedly owned the RV and was wanted for violating his parole, according to the sheriff’s office. During the search of the RV, two large bags of suspected meth were found, along with other alleged drug paraphernalia like a digital scale. Bryant was arrested during the search for his parole warrant and he’s also been charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. He’s currently being held in the Henderson County Jail on $100,000 bond.

KEMP – Our news partners at KETK report that two people were arrested in Kemp on Sunday morning after bags of suspected methamphetamines, a firearm and a large amount of cash were found during a traffic stop. According to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, two of their office’s narcotics investigators were in the 1300 block of Pritchett Lane in Kemp at around 1:19 a.m. when they conducted a traffic stop on a silver Kia sedan. During the stop, investigators spoke with the driver of the Kia, who was identified by the sheriff’s office as Krayton Lavelle Williams, 26 of Athens. The investigators then contacted a K9 unit to come sniff the vehicle and when the unit arrived the K9 alerted near the Kia. The sheriff’s office said investigators then searched the Kia and found a loaded firearm, a large amount of cash and prepackaged bags of suspected meth that were allegedly found in a concealed compartment of the Kia’s dashboard. Continue reading Suspected meth, gun, cash found in traffic stop

TYLER — David Stein announced his intention to run for re-election as Smith County Republican Party Chairman, seeking a fourth term. According to our news partner KETK, Since 2020, Stein and Smith County Republicans have worked diligently to keep the Party strong and relevant. During that time, Smith County has remained heavily Republican and a model for counties across the state. The Party has recruited more Precinct Chairs, kept finances in great shape, elevated its presence in the community by being visible at events in all areas of the county, and continued to elect strong conservative Republicans to local, state, and federal offices. Continue reading Stein announces re-election campaign

EAST TEXAS — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is currently searching for a missing 78-year-old man who was last seen leaving his home on Sunday morning. According to our news partner KETK, deputies responded to a report of a missing person in the 8600 block of County Road 384 near Tyler at around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.

A family member told deputies that Emiliano Valle, left his home on foot, heading in an unknown direction at around 6 a.m. on Sunday. Valle is described as a 5’01” Hispanic man with grey hair, who weighs around 250 pounds and is possibly wearing a black suit jacket.

Valle has lymphedema and frequent UTI’s that cause him to get confused and have issues with his memory. He also has trouble walking and requires bandages on his legs. Continue reading Officials searching for missing 78-year-old man