The task was daunting. Newton Cemetery had not been regularly maintained in living memory. Many community residents were unaware of its existance because it was disguised by overgrowth and underbrush. The owner of surrounding property had attempted to control illegal dumping by posting a sign and placement of a gate. The gate was removed and the sign ignored, and the dumping of construction debris, trash, and litter continued. Four-wheelers used the steep bank on the north side of the cemetery for ramping. Sometimes the vehicles entered the cemetery. There were reports of tombstones being found at the base of the bank.
	A group of concerned community members, 4-Hers, and Newton descendants met with representatives of the Arkansas PreservationProgram, Department of Heritage to discuss options available for the historic cemetery.
Patricia Rowbotham, Tammie Dillon, and Randy Jeffreys
	This photo of Newton Descendants was taken in October 1998. Mr. James Newton (1919 - 1999) was instrumental in helping to organize the project. Mr. Newton was descended from Kennon K. Newton, son of Ebenezer Newton. Mrs. Hazel Throop Rowbotham, Lacy Tate, Faye Rowbotham Tate, and I. W. Owen are all descendants of J. W. Newton, the son of  William Milton Harvey Newton.

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