When John Applegate had spare time on the weekends, he took old wood and repurposed it into unique, Wyoming-themed benches.

Then, he donated his benches to the people of Lander so they can sit for a spell and enjoy the views on one of the town’s popular trails.

But his benches keep getting stolen.

In mid-August, Applegate placed a handcrafted wooden bench on Mortimer Lane. This past week, he passed by the spot where he had put it only to realize it had been stolen.

“I was driving up and down Mortimer Lane, which I like to do, and saw that it was missing,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “I couldn’t believe it. That’s the second time this has happened in that spot.”

Applegate is making a public plea to the Lander community, hoping his bench will be returned to its intended place. It hasn’t

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