Official notice to be released April 1

Inciting bedlam in Park County, the federal government has ruled that the entire Powell community actually lies within the city of Cody’s boundaries.

The Environmental Protection Agency was expected to officially publish a notice in the federal register today (April 1) deeming the Powell area to be “an indistinguishable and generally unremarkable portion of the City of Cody, Wyoming.”

The EPA’s decision was the unexpected response to some Powell officials’ complaints that the city does not get as much attention or “cool stuff” as Cody.

The EPA notice suggests Powell now be known as “Lesser Cody.”

Illustrating the absolute chaos created by the ruling, Greater Cody (formerly just Cody) Mayor Fancy Brown Tea issued an April 1 statement saying that “Lesser Cody (Powell) residents will be required to immediately surrender all household rabbits and chickens in compliance with Greater Cody ordinance.”

In addition, flat-bed trailers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were reportedly en route to Powell to begin the process of digging up the entire Park County Fairgrounds and trucking it to Cody.

It was unclear at press time whether Northwest College also would move to Cody.

NWC spokesman Mart Livingroom declined comment, but noted generally that the campus “is extremely heavy.”

The EPA’s ruling was expected to apply retroactively to August 2013. That means Powell High School’s four state titles since that time — in football, volleyball, wrestling and drama — will be credited to Cody High School. The EPA notice says the title transfer is “the only available method to resolve what must be considerable jealousy in Greater Cody.”

Powell residents took immediate umbrage to the news. As of press time, a Facebook page titled, “Keep Powell, Powell,” had 6,308 likes.

On April 1, regional spokesman for the EPA declined comment on Powell’s objections, but said a public hearing had “most likely” been held in Washington, D.C., “sometime last year.”

Several puzzled Cody residents contacted by the Tribune declined to comment, saying they didn’t know anything about a “Powell, Wyoming.”

“Is this some kind of April Fools’ joke?” asked one.