Church fights Walmart's request to sell alcohol-- and wins
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By Trey Thomas, All News 106.7
POWDER SPRINGS, Ga. -
A Cobb County church fought and won a battle against the world's largest retailer today, and came out on top. Pine Grove Baptist Church didn't want Walmart to begin selling alcohol at a store located near their building, and church members argued passionately to keep that from happening.
A Walmart Supercenter sits next to Pine Grove Baptist Church on Barrett Parkway near the East-West Connector in Powder Springs. Members of the church wanted to maintain the safety and sanctity of their church, and in the end, all but one county commissioner agreed with them.
Customers cannot buy beer and wine at that Walmart location because of a Cobb County law prohibiting the sale of alcohol within 600 feet of a church. The retailer hoped to get a waiver, but church members turned out in force to oppose their request.
"It's a matter of honoring and treating some of the two most prized possessions we have—the house of worship and our children—the young people," said Deacon Kenneth Carroll.
The Walmart in question sits so close to the church's property that you can actually see its steeple above the roof line of the building. Cobb County Commissioner Woody Thompson made the motion to reject Walmart's waiver request. Both the store and the church lie in his district.
In the end, the vote was 4-1 to reject Walmart's request. A company official said they will decide what to do next, if anything.
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