State Parks honors Whidbey volunteers

Steven Kobylk and Boy Scout Troop 4058 have been named as recipients of the 2007 Volunteer Recognition Awards for outstanding volunteer service from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Steven Kobylk and Boy Scout Troop 4058 have been named as recipients of the 2007 Volunteer Recognition Awards for outstanding volunteer service from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

The commission announced the winners of the awards Wednesday.

Kobylk, of Coupeville, was honored with the award given for an outstanding contribution by an individual.

Kobylk, a volunteer at Fort Casey since 1999, has prepared and painted the fort’s iconic 10-inch disappearing rifles, cleared brush and restored and painted historical features in the battery storage room. He also owns a number of the historical artifacts on display and has donated phones, lanterns, spotting scopes, uniforms, replica post lanterns, shell casings and more to the museum in the lighthouse at the fort.

Kobylk also developed a booklet to tell the life story of Mathew L. English, a Coupeville native who served in World War I and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Boy Scout Troop 4058 received the commission’s Scout Award.

The troop removed an old vault toilet in the group camp area at Pearrygin Lake State Park. The Scouts also prepared the ground for grass, painted 50 feet of fence and repositioned the fire pit.