Church beats Walmart in battle over alcohol sales …
Need fewer — Southern Baptists in the county. They seem to publicly be: busy bodies, mean-spirited, backward thinking.
The Humorist — If Walmart really wants controversy, they should put up some really tall antennas...and maybe add some backyard chicken coops.
Cobb Taxpayer —So much for free markets.
SBC Member — As a Southern Baptist, this vote was wrong. Do members of Pine Grove think people would buy their beer and start drinking before they leave the Walmart parking lot? All the “crime” and lean-tos are already in the area behind the store and that has nothing to do with buying beer. The list of crimes your member had were ALL committed at Walmart with no sale of alcohol. Jesus walked among and ministered to the people, ALL people, not just the ones who were believers. I attend an in-town church with restaurants that sell alcohol all around us. We deal with the homeless all the time. Step out on faith and live in today’s world. You cannot be isolated in this county.
Funny SBC — News flash for SBC Member. Pine Grove Baptist is not a member of the SBC and never has been.
AuditAlcoholSales — I suggest the County audit all county-wide establishments that sell beer and wine. I would bet dozens of grocery/convenience stores are within the 600-feet limit. So why don’t they stop sales at these establishments? Perhaps it is because commercial sales mean more tax revenue.
Dustoff — While I have no problem with a church wanting to have a say in their neighborhood I do have a problem with their tax property tax exemption. I can agree that the church itself be exempted from property tax, but my problem lies in that the schools, day care centers and the other business’s they run are also exempt. If they can use these other businesses to make money then they should be paying the property tax on the land on which they occupy.
WWJD??? — Strange. I don’t recall Jesus ever saying “Help the less fortunate ... Unless they are vagrants or alcoholics. THOSE people can fend for themselves and you should do everything you can to protect your wooded areas and fences and parking lots and ‘buffer’ areas from these people.” Thank you to Pine Grove Baptist Church for showing the world the meaning of the song, “They Will Know We are Christians by our Love.”
Murph3I — This county is stuck in the 1800s, run by old rednecks and the church when our constitution clearly states separation of church and state. Way to go Rev. Wood, you’ve really made Cobb a better place. Now the drunks will have to drive another half mile on your streets to get their second 12-pack of the day.
Be Careful — Will someone PLEASE explain to me how a church or school is “protected” by the 600 foot limit. 600 feet is the length of 2 football fields. That distance can be walked in a matter of a couple minutes. I don’t get it. If you are religious and don’t believe in drinking, then don’t drink.
MAY-RETTA SURVIVOR — Rev. Wood and the rest of those Pine Grove Baptist Church “members” pictured look as if they could all benefit from a stiff drink!
Observing All — Because you were educated in liberal progressive government schools, you would not realize that these people look like the people who built this country, this state, and this county.
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Other than sharing a rear property line the WalMart does not relate to the church geographically.
It is effectively located on a completely different road.
Legal interpretation of the ordinance ignores the "on the ground" situation.
To Anonymous- Pine Grove Baptist being built before Wal Mart should make no difference in the store's right to sell alcohol.
Spin it any way you want. When you resort to hateful stereotypes and prejudice, you have already lost the argument.