Twitter @JennaNMartin

All cooks with a hankering for barbecue are invited to test their skills at an inaugural barbecue cookoff in March.

Members of the men’s ministry at Kiokee Baptist Church are seeking individuals and groups to sign up by March 3 for the inaugural Kiokee Kooker’s BBQ Cookoff,

The event is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 10 at the former J.D. Howell’s store on the corner of Ray Owens and White Oak roads in Appling.

“It’s all about the bragging rights and who cooks the best barbecue,” said Keith Price, an event organizer.

Twitter @DonnieFetter

The mother of a famed disappearance victim warned Augusta Preparatory Day School students Friday about the dangers of overseas travel.

“One thing I will do is carry her story for the rest of my life,” Beth Holloway said of Natalee Holloway in a video clip she played prior to a speech to the Martinez private school’s high school students.

Natalee Holloway disappeared in 2005 during a graduation trip to Aruba with classmates from Mountain Brook High School in Alabama.

Twitter @ValerieRowell

A Columbia County jury found Thomas Bradford guilty Friday in the fatal shooting of Raymond Lee.

After about six hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of guilty of felony murder, guilty of possession of a gun during commission of a crime, and not guilty of malice murder.

Though Lee's family opted not to speak at the sentencing hearing following the verdict, Lee's wife Karen said a soft "thank you" to some jurors as they left the courtroom.

Twitter @ValerieRowell

Accused murderer Thomas Bradford took the stand in his own defense Thursday afternoon, telling jurors the nuances of his job hauling sludge en route to explaining why he and a Columbia County Water Utility worker got into a fatal argument over it.

Bradford is charged with the April 1, 2011, fatal shooting of Raymond Lee.