Military Training Causes Panic in Small Town

Saturday night, May 28 a small town in southern West Virginia was "invaded" by the National Guard. At 11:00 pm national guard troops, with live ammunition, tanks, helicopters, and other military weapons conducted military Ridge Runner exercises in the town of Chapmanville, West Virginia causing panic among the citizens. No advance notice was given and the local mayor, town council and police department did not have any prior notice of the exercises. I saw and heard the helicopters about 11:15 pm. It was really scary!

This morning the Logan County Sheriff posted the following on Facebook:

PRESS RELEASE:

*NATIONAL GUARD TRAINING IN LOGAN, WV*

The WV National Guard has advised the Logan County Sheriff's Office the follow:
"Ridge Runner is a military training exercise that provides a venue for the West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) to train with other National Guard and Reserves as well as their active duty counterparts in Irregular Warfare. These exercises take place in urban and rural locations throughout the state. Ridge Runner exercises focus on Key Leader Engagements (meetings) but also include normal military maneuvers. Ridge Runner participants may be in military uniform, civilian attire, or a combination of both. All Ridge Runner participants will carry a Ridge Runner identification badge in addition to his or her military I.D. The current exercise is being conducted in the vicinity of the new Logan County National Guard Armory, Holden, WV. It will also use the recently created airstrip known as Camp Branch. Camp Branch provides a training opportunity for the Army and Air Guard aviation in the area. Camp Branch will also provide maneuver space for the Army Armored Cavalry to train. The support from the citizens of Logan County and all of the rest of the West Virginians is greatly appreciated and essential to the realism of Ridge Runner exercises. Through this partnership some economic gains could result for the region."
The National Guard will be in and out of the Logan County area through next week doing their "Ridge Runner" training.
The National Guard has advised Sheriff Sonya M. Dingess Porter this morning that the Logan County Sheriff's Office will be noticed in advance when the next training exercise will be occurring so the public can be made aware.

Is this the prelude to military law coming to all of our towns? Why did this happen over the Memorial Day weekend, without notice? Why this small town? Perhaps because it is the hometown of the current governor of the state and they know something is coming down.