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Ask Matt ... about flags at half-staff, traffic stops

Q. Occasionally I drive by the fire station and see the flag at half-staff but I don't know why. Who makes that decision?

Officially, the only occasions during which the U.S. flag is flown at half-staff is Memorial Day, Peace Officers Memorial Day, or at the direction of the president or governor. This is in accordance with the U.S. Flag Code, Title 4. In our state, we also observe half-staff lowering for Korean War Veterans Day, Patriot Day and Pearl Harbor Day. Thus far this year, Gov. McCrory has ordered lowering the State Flag (only) in honor of these North Carolinians who passed away: retired Col. Richard Holden of the State Highway Patrol, State Representative Jim Fulghum, State Senator Harris Blake, Officer Alexander Thalmann (Craven County), who was killed in the line of duty, and Dr. Maya Angelou, the poet, educator and civil rights activist.
The way this works is that the governor makes the decision on additional occasions to lower the State Flag. Then a notice is sent by email to state and local government agencies by the NC Department of Administration with specific flag protocol directions. Any individual, or in your case, fire department, may receive this same notice simply by registering (search "NCDOA Flag Alert"). Volunteer fire departments are nonprofit entities and are not obligated to follow flag lowering protocols.

Q. Does the County Sheriff's Department still conduct traffic stops?

Yes it does. Sheriff McDonald's office said that three "checkpoint" operations were conducted last July. The locations were Greenville Highway at North Lake Summit Road, Howard Gap Road at Kingswood Drive and U.S. 25 at Exit 7 ramp in Zirconia. Citations issued included expired tags, no license or revoked license, seat belt violations, open containers of alcohol and drugs. Checkpoint locations are determined based on citizen complaints, drug activity or recent crime areas. Last July deputies participated in Operation Firecracker, a highway safety campaign. The checkpoint was on Long Shoals Road and included 25 officers from seven area law enforcement units. The crackdown racked up 2,000 DWI citations statewide. Although Hendersonville did not join in Operation Firecracker, police team leaders are given the authority to conduct checkpoints in the city as necessary. According to Chief of Police Herbert Blake, the Governors Highway Safety Program requires that law enforcement agencies conduct routine checkpoints to remain in good standing.

Q. What station plays non-stop Christmas music?

I found three, all on the FM side: 98.9 (Greenville), 96.5 (Asheville), and 91.3 (Asheville). The last one, 91.3, is a Christian station, so you may not hear "Dogs Barking Jingle Bells" or Bruce Springsteen's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." Good luck and Feliz Navidad.

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Ask Matt a question by writing to askmattm@gmail.com