What The Heck Happened?

Apologies to anyone who was forced off U.S. Highway 62 West by a swerving silver sedan last Tuesday afternoon.

It was the first time I had driven through my ol’ stompin’ grounds in five years and the multitude of changes around Farmington, Prairie Grove and Lincoln gave me whiplash.

I mean, Farmington has a Domino’s and a Walmart Neighborhood Market?

What the heck happened to Daylight Donuts and One-Stop?

Progress, I guess, depending on how one views change.

Cardinals boys basketball coach Beau Thompson asked me — before my Tuesday drive — if I was going to get a house in Farmington, so I could raise my children in the same school system that helped raised me.

In my head, my first reaction was, “Heeeehhhhck NO!” As parents, we want to provide something better, which usually means something different, for our kids. Sure, I turned out OK (depending on whom you ask), but I didn’t view Farmington as the same town I grew up raising cane in.

We’re trying to raise our two young boys with small-town values, and FHS looked more like a place for future city slickers to me.

Besides, there are too many stories — some true, mostly — floating around about my high school days, like the time I turned a cheerleader’s cheeks redder than her hair during a pep rally.

Preferably, our boys will hear my version of those stories first, if ever at all, was what ran through my brain after Beau’s question caught me off guard.

For folks who don’t know me and are somehow still reading this rambling column, here’s the Twitter’ed version of my ties to the area: I graduated from Farmington in 1995, covered sports for The Lincoln Leader and Prairie Grove Enterprise and helped launch (and name) The Farmington Post. Soon after Stephens Media bought the weeklies, I moved on to covering Arkansas Razorbacks men’s sports for The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas and would later become the Arkansas editor of VYPE High School Sports Magazine.

After five humbling years in Gator Country, the opportunity to return home was a Godsend. We’re bunking at my parent’s farm (by the way, that’s not the best idea when you’re in your late 30s), so we can take our time shopping for our next home.

Exactly where it will be remains undecided, but we’re looking at everything with much more open minds than I had when coach Thompson first asked me where we were going to live.

Fortunately, only the scenery has changed — the people haven’t. Everyone still is warm, welcoming and spun from the same moral fiber we strive to instill in our boys.

From my first interview with Prairie Grove football coach Danny Abshier to my first hugs (maybe

ever) from Farmington coaches Brad Blew and Steve Morgan, I constantly have been reminded of that. Great people are what make a community great.

Sure, my ol’ stomping grounds look different, but with all of the changes such as all of the new facilities (which I’ll write about another day) and people who are just as genuine as ever, it’s certainly better.

And didn’t I say that’s what I want for my kids?

P. S. Estimates for any damage caused during my Tuesday drive can be sent to Farmington Schools, c/o Brad Blew. MIKE CAPSHAW COVERS SPORTS FOR THE WASHINGTON COUNTY ENTERPRISE-LEADER. HE CAN BE REACHED VIA EMAIL AT MCAPSHAW@NWADG.COM.