BUCHANAN COUNTY VIRGINIA IS IN A DOG FIGHT OF ITS OWN. THE COUNTY HAS SPENT SEVERAL YEARS WRESTLING A HALF-A-MILLION DOLLARS FROM VANSANT LUMBER COMPANY AND K.J. STEPHENS AND ASSOCIATES WHO WERE CONVICTED OF BRIBING PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN 2002 FOR FLOOD RELIEF CONTRACTS. OVER A DOZEN PEOPLE WERE CONVICTED IN THE “BIG COON DOG” SCANDLE IN FEDERAL COURT. A CIVIL JURY AWARDED THE COUNTY, DAMAGES BASED ON AN AMOUNT BUCHANAN COUNTY PAID BEYOND A REASONABLE VALUE FOR GOODS AND SERVICES. AN ATTORNEY FOR THE LUMBER COMPANIES, TIM MCAFEE, CONTENDS THE COUNTY DIDN’T MEET ITS BURDEN OF PROOF. HE’S SAYS THE COUNTY ISN’T OWED ANYTHING. U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE JAMES JONES IN ABINGDON, INDICATED HE WILL HOLD OFF ON A RULING UNTIL HE REVIEWS SEVERAL THINGS. THE NEXT HEARING DATE HASN’T BEEN SET AT THIS TIME.