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Jason Nazarenko, President of the Cotter Chamber of Commerce, will be the guest speaker at the February meeting of the Baxter County Historical Society on Tuesday, and he has invited the Society to hold the meeting in a historic Cotter church building that he and his wife Kammi have renovated.
The Nazarenkos both had lived in the Twin Lakes area when they were young. When Jason Nazarenko retired from his career as a U. S. Army helicopter pilot, he and Kammi returned the area, moving to Cotter.
Since then, they have been giving new purpose to historic buildings. They have acquired several structures in Cotter and renovated them for contemporary use, including the historic Cumberland Presbyterian Church where the Historical Society will meet.
Speaking on the theme “New Life in Old Places,” the Nazarenkos will share the story of how they chose this as a business enterprise and a way of promoting local history. They will describe the projects they have done.
Jason Nazarenko’s family had moved to Cotter in 1991 when his father Bill Nazarenko (currently a MH Post Office employee) retired from the Navy.
Jason graduated from Cotter High School in 1994, married Kammi (Statler) and joined the Army in 1996.
Jason served 23 years in the Army, finishing his career with the last 10 years in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers) as an MH-60M Blackhawk Helicopter Pilot and Senior Operations Manager in the largest assault company in the US Army.
Along with volunteering as the Chamber President for Cotter-Gassville, Jason is the the Planning and Zoning Commissioner for Cotter. Jason also currently works as the Base Pilot Supervisor (Lead Pilot) for Air Evac 40 in Harrison, and as a Sheriff’s Reserve pilot for the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office.
Kammi (Statler) was born in Imboden and grew up in Mountain Home. Her father, Fox Statler, was a teacher in the MH school system for many years and a guide on the White and Norfork Rivers. Her mother, Linda, was a Walmart employee for over 20 years.
Kammi has been the lead designer of each space the couple has renovated. Jason notes that Kammi’s designs have “exceptional results that draw guests in and produce consistent 5 Star reviews. Her expertise and passion in decorating, staging, and make the renovated spaces uniquely inviting.”
The Historical Society meeting is this Tuesday, February 22, at 6:00 p.m. The historic Presbyterian church building is located at the corner of 2nd Street and Combs Street in Cotter. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy a great evening in a unique meeting space. The meetings of the Baxter County Historical Society are free and open to the public.
For more information call the Society at 870-425-2551.
Submitted by David Benedict, President — 870-736-4800
