SYRIA — A couple days of rain, thousands of freeze-thaw cycles and a steady dose of gravity wreaked havoc on the Virginia Department of Transportation on Wednes-day, creating an Orange County sinkhole and pulling down a chunk of rock outcropping near this Madison County town.

MADISON COUNTY — James Wines moved his fly-fishing pole higher and balanced himself on two rocks. As the 9-year-old moved the fishing line closer to the banks of the Rose River, it became clear that he hadn’t made his first catch of the day.
“I got a stick fish this time,” said the Stafford County resident, dragging his catch closer until he could free it.
“He’s learning, you know,” said Albert Lillibridge, Wines’ grandfather.