Two Nebraska conservation officers received special recognition for their heroic efforts from the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association during the Jan. 19 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission meeting at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park.
    Officer Bryce Streger helped families escape a western Nebraska wildfire and evacuated an elderly couple in the nick of time. Streger lost all of his personal belongings in the fire.
    Officer Brian Piernicky responded to an accident near Swanson Reservoir and located and assisted a passenger with critical injuries. The passenger would not have survived without Piernicky’s assistance.
    The officers received a standing ovation from their supervisors, peers and from the commissioners.
    The Commission also established a reduced-price restricted statewide buck-any deer permit during the meeting.
    This permit will have lower fees than the statewide buck-any deer permit because the restricted permit hunting area would exclude some areas for mule deer harvest.
    The restricted statewide buck-any deer fees will be $125 for residents and $695 for nonresidents.
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