A JURY HAS AWARDED BUCHANAN COUNTY VIRGINIA A HALF-A-MILLION DOLLARS IN A CIVIL SUIT FOR MONEY IT SPENT IN FLOOD RELIEF WORK AFTER FEDERAL MONEY FOR THE PROJECT WAS USED IN A CORRUPTION SCHEME. THE JURY SAID THE COUNTY WAS ENTITLED TO RECOVER THE MONEY IT SPENT BEYOND THE REASONABLE VALUE OF THE WORK PERFORMED BY CONTRACTORS, WHO BRIBED COUNTY OFFICIALS TO GET THE WORK. HOWEVER, THE VERDICT REJECTED ARGUMENTS OF ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING BUCHANAN COUNTY, SEEKING TO GET 2.2 MILLION DOLLARS THAT THE CRIMINAL ACTS CAUSED. IN THE END, BOTH SIDES EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH THE VERDICT. SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE STILL BEHIND BARS AS A RESULT OF THEIR PART IN THE “BIG COON DOG” CORRUPTION RING. THE MONEY WAS SUPPOSE TO GO FOR REBUILDING THE HURLEY COMMUNITY THAT WAS DESTROYED DURING A FLOOD.