Pa. National Guard having training exercises in Mercer, Lawrence counties

SHARON, Pa. — The Pennsylvania National Guard is hosting a multiagency emergency-preparedness exercise called Vigilant Guard, today through May 16 in Lebanon County, as well as secondary training events other Pennsylvania counties — locally, these include Lawrence and Mercer counties.

The exercise is not held in response to any specific threat, but instead designed to evaluate and enhance the integration of local, state and federal responders under one command structure, testing the ability of different agencies to provide continuity of services for an extended period of time.

A local portion of the drill will be at the Community Food Warehouse, 109 S. Sharpsville Ave., Sharon, from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday.

Sharon residents are urged not to be alarmed by the military presence near the food warehouse during the drill.

For questions, call Frank Jannetti, director of Mercer County Department of Public Safety, at 724-662-6100, ext. 2442.