Sleeping Beauty

A weary traveler arrived at IDI excited and scared as he told anyone who would listen about what he saw while passing AAcme City around the first part of June.  He heard wind howling through the night, and smelled a scent so bad he became violently ill and had to stop in his tracks.  He was miles from AAcme City but still the faint moonlight was like sunshine streaming onto a thick puffy cloud, crimson in color, that hung low above the city's skyline.  He heard an owl screech slicing into the haunting silence. The traveler run away as fast as his short little legs would carry him, not stopping until he reached the next city. He was told to go to IDI and repeat his tale, surely somewhere there would know what to do. After being fed a hot meal he continued on his way. Repeating his tale once again when he arrived at the Welcome Center, everyone began asking the stranger many questions, none of which he could answer.  Many had wondered what had become of AAcme City, as usually there is much commotion and commerce making the city thrive and alive.  A plan was made by the wisest and oldest citizens of INWORLDZ to send out a search party to investigate this strange phenomenon.  When the search party arrived the crimson cloud had dissipated but the awful stench the stranger described still lingered.  The citizens of AAcme that were outdoors and visible were frozen in their tracks, like when a movie is paused, some walking down a sidewalk, others shopping in stores, some fishing off the docks and others enjoying a day at the park.  After much discussion of what should be done, the wise men immediately radioed for a Doctor to come and examine the still life citizens.  They also requested that a scientist accompany the good Doctor to AAcme City.   Will the citizens be revived? will the awful smell be erased? and why, what or whom brought this doom upon AAcme City?