West Virginia Baptists for Biblical Values

09/11/2026

09/09/2026

The open alcohol container policy (PODA) for Main Street Point Pleasant failed last night at the city council meeting. It did not receive a motion or a vote.

I want to say thank you to all of those who prayed, called, sent emails, and attended the meetings to let your voice be heard. It was very encouraging to see many young people send in letters and speak at the meeting. Thank you too the 814 people who signed their names to a petition to stop this.

Thank you to Mayor Tatterson and the city council for helping to keep our families and children safe and keep alcohol off the streets!

08/09/2026

Who claims 50 times more lives than all the illegal drugs combined? Who costs the American people 130 billion dollars every year? Who destroys 1 in every 4 families in America? Who kills over 200,000 Americans each year? Is it crack? Is it co***ne? Could it be he**in? No, the undisputed heavy-weight champion of the drug world and number one killer of Americans is ALCOHOL!

* There are over 18 million alcoholics in America.
* Cirrhosis of the liver kills over 30,000 each year and rising.
* 50 percent of the people on welfare are due to alcohol.
* 80 percent of all fire deaths are due to alcohol.
* 65 percent of the drownings
* 22 percent of home accidents
* 77 percent of falls
* 36 percent of pedestrian accidents
* 65 percent of all murders
* 40 percent of all assaults
* 35 percent of all rapes
* 30 percent of other s*x crimes
* 30 percent of all su***des
* Over 80 percent of all arrests are linked to alcohol!

And one of the most disturbing statistics of all - 60 PERCENT OF ALL CHILD ABUSE IS DUE TO ALCOHOL!

Please contact the Point Pleasant City Council members and encourage them to vote no on PODA for main street.

click here and scroll down: https://visitpointpleasantwv.com/resourcelocal-resources/

The meeting is tomorrow, August 10 at the city building by auto zone. Public comments start at 6pm. Please come speak against this policy.

08/06/2026

Information update on Point Pleasant City Council meeting Monday August 10.

For some reason the times for this meeting have changed.

It says public hearing at 5:45 and 6 PM on August 10.

Public comment at 5:45 PM for the sanitation rate discussion and then at 6PM for the PODA District discussion.

PODA means private outdoor designated area. Basically this means people will be able to walk around main street with open alcohol containers on Fridays and Saturdays.

Please contact the city council members and ask them postpone the vote on PODA until September. Also encourage them to vote no on this harmful policy. Here are some reasons why:

Kills hundreds of thousands yearly: ~178,000 deaths from excessive alcohol use each year in the US (CDC, 2020–2021 data; a leading preventable cause of death). Worldwide, ~2.6 million deaths in 2019 (WHO).c92f51
CDC

Drunk driving deaths: ~12,000 people killed yearly in the US in alcohol-impaired crashes (about 30% of all traffic fatalities; roughly one death every 40–45 minutes).fd3d9d

Injuries and emergency visits: Contributes to millions of injuries (crashes, falls, drownings, burns, violence). In the US, alcohol was involved in >4.2 million emergency department visits in 2022.

Violence, su***de, and self-harm: Increases risk of homicide, intimate partner violence, s*xual assault, and su***de (alcohol is involved in a substantial portion of these cases).

Click here for contact info: https://visitpointpleasantwv.com/resourcelocal-resources/

And scroll to bottom.

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07/28/2026

It is time to return to the core principles that made this nation great. Our founders understood that our rights are not given by men, but are divine in origin, and that a society without faith cannot long sustain freedom. We have to be willing to stand up and defend that foundation before it's too late. 🇺🇸🙏

The Gipper’s words ring louder and truer with each passing day. Our strength isn't just in our military or our economy, it's in our shared belief and trust in the ultimate authority. We are One Nation Under God, and we have to protect that truth from being erased. 🦅

Are you in or out? 🇺🇸

07/25/2026

Drinking District on Main Street: Point Pleasant’s PODA Problem.

July 25, 2026

Dear Fellow Residents of Point Pleasant and surrounding areas,

Is allowing people to walk around with open alcohol containers for certain hours every week of the year safe for our community?

The City Council of Point Pleasant is considering such a policy. It is called P.O.D.A. and stands for Private Outdoor Designated Area. They recently advanced this initiative, aiming to create a downtown district where adults over 21 can purchase and carry alcoholic beverages in special cups within designated boundaries. They will vote on it at the next City Council meeting on August 10, 2026. Proponents highlight potential increases in foot traffic for restaurants, bars, and shops. The city will also profit from the expanded sale of alcohol. While the intent to increase local economy is understandable, the evidence from similar policies across West Virginia and beyond suggests that the risks far outweigh these short-term gains. We must carefully consider the negative consequences before moving forward—our community's safety, family values, and long-term well-being hang in the balance.

First and foremost, as a pastor, I must sound the warning from the Bible about the dangers of alcohol. Proverbs 20:1 teaches that wine is a mocker, and strong drink is raging, whosever is deceived thereby is not wise. Many lives are destroyed by alcohol every single day. This policy will only contribute to the harmful effects of excessive alcohol consumption. This policy promotes profit over people. Again, in the book of wisdom, Proverbs 14:34, we are given the principle that righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. To put it simply, this policy will only hurt the people of Point Pleasant, not help it.

Secondly, P.O.D.A.s can also create more work for police officers and city employees. They have to monitor where people are drinking, whether they are using approved cups, whether the alcohol came from a licensed business, and whether people stay inside the boundaries. Parkersburg's P.O.D.A., for example, runs along Market Street from Third Street to Ninth-and-a-Half Street. Enforcing a boundary in the middle of a small downtown area could be difficult, especially during crowded events.

Thirdly, public safety is another concern. Charleston specifically keeps the authority to suspend its P.O.D.A. immediately when officials believe that is necessary for public safety. To me, the need for that power shows that city leaders recognize the possibility of unsafe conditions. This ordinance for Point Pleasant also gives the mayor the authority to shut down P.O.D.A. There could also be more litter, noise, and disorder. Special cups can become trash, and allowing people to walk between businesses with alcohol may increase public intoxication, arguments, or disruptive behavior. These problems could affect residents, families, and businesses that do not benefit from alcohol sales.

Finally, our city leaders cannot ignore the harm caused by alcohol to youth and families. P.O.D.A. lowers barriers to alcohol access, making it easier for underage drinking to slip through—despite ID checks at purchase points. Nationally, studies link open-container zones to a 15-20% uptick in youth alcohol exposure, fostering a culture where casual boozing is celebrated. In a family-oriented community like Point Pleasant, with strong church ties and generational roots, this erodes the values we've cherished for decades. Our children deserve streets that feel safe and inspiring, not zones that glamorize intoxication. Moreover, the policy could exacerbate social divides. While a few bars and eateries profit, non-participating businesses (like family-owned shops or churches) may suffer from disrupted foot traffic or rowdier crowds, widening economic gaps in our already modest downtown.

Let's not rush into a policy that's worked unevenly elsewhere, often prioritizing profits over people. The city of Gallipolis, OH tried this a few months ago, and it failed. I believe the citizens of Point Pleasant will strongly oppose this ordinance as well. I urge you to contact each city council member and request that the vote be postponed until the September meeting, and to encourage them to vote no on this alcohol ordinance!

Point Pleasant City Council Members:

(please call and email and leave a message and encourage members to postpone the vote till September and to VOTE NO on P.O.D.A. for Point Pleasant.)

Amber Tatterson: (Mayor)
[email protected]
304-675-5989

Gabe Roush: (At Large)
[email protected]
3045934589

Robert McMillian: (At Large)
[email protected]
304-675-8810
304-674-5080

Corrie Fetty: (First Ward)
[email protected]
304-593-3659

Paul Knisley: (Second Ward)
[email protected]
304-532-8731
304-675-2269

Cody Greathouse: (Third Ward)
[email protected]
304-593-0120

Jay Parrack: (Fourth Ward)
[email protected]
304-593-3911

April Shultz: (Fifth Ward)
[email protected]
304-812-7077

Judy Hollard: (Sixth Ward)
304-674-5228

Josh Billings: (Seventh Ward)
[email protected]
304-674-6988

Zach Sayre: (Eighth Ward)
[email protected]
304-545-3109

Sincerely,
Bo Burgess
Pastor Jordan Baptist Church
Director, WV Baptists for Biblical Values
Gallipolis Ferry, WV
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 304-377-2328

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07/04/2026

Happy Independence Day!

04/15/2026

Are you curious as to how your legislators and others vote on bills pertaining to Biblical Values? Now you can know with just a few clicks of a button!

We are very excited to introduce a BRAND NEW Interactive Legislator, Bill, and Vote Tracker tool!

You can track bills, votes, and how your legislator scores when it come to Biblical Values.

Please check it out on our website at wvbbv.com. Click on the banner to start exploring!

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