Many small towns lead lives of quiet desperation. Populations are on the decline and have been for years. Kids leave home for better opportunities and don't return. Hometown businesses close because they can't compete with national chains in nearby cities. Life shrinks. Few pay attention.
Weekly or biweekly newspapers in these outposts have mostly folded; so even if something noteworthy happens, there is no one around to report it and fewer are around to digest it-whether in print or online.
Life moves on in a vacuum-or maybe on social media.
Town fathers in such places would be grateful for a glowing headline or some positive attention from the regional media. They know they won't get it. Mostly reporters and cameras show up when something bad happens, and that's once in a blue moon.
In that sense, these towns are fortunate. Bad things, relatively speaking, don't happen too often, and when they do it is considered an anomaly.
As such, Prescott, Ark., is having a run of bad press rarely seen in a small community.
Prescott, if you don't know, sits about 50 miles northeast of here along Interstate 30. Little Rock is 100 miles farther up the road.
Much of the town is invisible to travelers. Two travel plazas anchor exits coming and going-convenient stops for people with no plans to stay. About 3,000 people live there, but the population has been dwindling for decades.
Since April 2-basically the last three weeks-Prescott has been at the center of media attention in ways that are high profile, undesirable or both.
One 14-year-old male student shot another 14-year-old male student at the high school one morning. Fortunately, the victim is recovering.
As tragic as this is on the surface, because the number and scope of school shootings have escalated in recent years, even less sensational events, like this one, get national attention.
Statements point to this attack being personal as opposed to being plotted. But in the moment, it could not be ignored or downplayed.
Prescott also lost its state-sanctioned marijuana dispensary because, among other issues, it couldn't find an acceptable place to put it. This is an important loss for a town this size. The state is getting ready to open up shop for medical marijuana, and there are a set number of outlets. Prescott had one. Now it doesn't.
As controversial as it might be (opponents would argue losing it is a win), the dispensary represented jobs, fees, taxes, new commercial traffic that are difficult to come by in small towns. The benefits, and any controversy that might come with it, will move to Texarkana. So will the interest and the money it generates.
If these weren't enough, during this time frame it was revealed that a federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the town against SWEPCO, a regional power supplier. The suit alleges business improprieties that have cost the town more than $3 million.
Finally, in recent days, we have seen a 33-year-old high school teacher in Prescott arrested for alleged sexual contact with a 15-year-old student. She is now on administrative leave.
Illicit activities such as the one alleged here have become more and more common. (Some would say better reported.) Still, it is shocking and the public response is usually a collective "Oh, my!"
If these four events happened in Little Rock in a short span, no one would think much about it.
It would be a little bigger deal in Texarkana, where things like this have popped up from time to time, but not in quick succession.
But one thing after another in such a small place? Who would have thought.
Little towns have their share of drama, the details of which mostly don't creep out much beyond the city limits. Everybody there knows what's going on. Nobody else does.
When this run of unfortunate events all plays out, they will likely be followed by, well, not much-or at least not much we'll ever hear about.
Have no doubt, Prescott residents like it that way.
There is life after bad press, and folks there will soon enough go back to living it.