After hearing from area residents that a couple of Beartooth Highway All American Road signs had been improperly printed, Wyoming Department of Transportation workers were quick to get replacement sign overlays printed.

WYDOT public relations specialist Cody Beers said as a worker went to replace the first sign he found instead that the wooden post had been cut, the sign and top part of the post gone.

“Somebody stole all three signs,” he said.

That included a sign with the words All and American reversed, as well as two signs on one post also on Wyo. Highway 296 — one saying Chief Joseph Scenic Highway and one Wyoming 296.

Now, all three signs will be replaced, Beers said, and it’s already cost the department roughly $3,000 in time and printing costs, with more costs to come as all three posts and actual signs, not just the overlays, will have to be replaced.

“We’ll have to reorder brand new signs, dig new holes, put new posts in,” he said, adding, “We’re moving ahead, we’re ordering new signs, but it’s going to be awhile before they get put back up.”

Beers said a similar thing happened a few years before with flashing elk crossing signs between Cody and Meeteetse. They also appeared to have been sawed off and suspects, who were never found, carried away not just the signs but solar panels worth $1,500 each.

“When we put up steel posts that stopped,” Beers said.

Now he’s hoping area residents who have any information about who stole the signs will reach out to him with any information.

“These people from Cody were embarrassed by signs with typos,” he said. “Now the signs are stolen and gone, I wonder what they all think about that.”