Columbia Falls, a town 'ripe for change'

As Columbia Falls continues to re-invent itself in the wake of a Superfund designation for the aluminum plant site and Weyerhaueser closures, the community is working to retain its blue-collar identity and actually amplify it through new development.

Columbia Falls native O’Brien Byrd has led the charge in advocating for a change in attitude, not identity.

Byrd launched a community market last year that has become a solid success. He led a group that updated the Columbia Falls logo and he successfully lobbied fellow community advocate Mick Ruis for money to help install lights and a new scoreboard at the high school soccer field.

Owner of O’Brien’s Liquor and Wine, Byrd said he thinks Columbia Falls is on the upswing toward better economic times. He believes the community should embrace a little change rather than sit in one place hoping for better circumstances.

“It’s an exciting time,” Byrd said. “I think that the changes we’re seeing proves to a lot of people that anyone can make change. This town is ripe for change.”

BYRD GREW up in Columbia Falls and graduated from high school there in 1995. He went to McPherson College in Kansas and graduated with a teaching degree while playing soccer and singing in the choir. He and his wife Melanie taught in different places around the country, from Hawaii to Pennsylvania, but eventually came back to Columbia Falls. Byrd said that was always the plan.

In 2004, he purchased the liquor and wine shop that’s been running strong ever since.

But when they returned to settle down, “It was twofold,” Byrd said. “Through our travels we realized how great we had it here. The people are genuine and helpful to each other. But there were some unflattering things.”

Byrd saw the struggling timber industry and the shuttering aluminum plant. He saw a strained community not unlike Libby, which has had its own economic troubles with a shrinking natural resource market and a Superfund designation inducing a stigma of toxicity.

“We’re at the mercy of industry here, with the aluminum company and the tumultuous timber industry. When those suffered, we had an identity crisis,” Byrd said.

But Byrd looked through Columbia Falls’ stigma and began working past it.

Byrd coaches both youth and high school soccer in Columbia Falls. Laura Jones, a Columbia Falls resident and former girls soccer coach, told the Inter Lake how Byrd has affected her town and son, who played for Byrd.

“It’s kind of like small town dreams coming true,” she said. “He employs people and he’s given these kids hope for the future. He not only coaches, it’s off-the-field stuff, like helping kids find colleges.”

Byrd’s youth players recently wrote sentiments on note cards to illustrate what they’ve learned under Byrd. The notes aren’t always about winning or losing, and sometimes soccer isn’t even mentioned. One recurring thought in those cards was, “If you can believe it, you can see it.”

“Sports is an opportunity to cultivate situations that will bring about change,” Byrd said. “Coaches have the chance to have more impact than teachers and, sometimes, parents.”

Byrd said his motivation to overcome adversity comes from his youth, where he had all the love he could want from his parents, but no money for gum.

“I’ll never forget not having enough money to buy a pack of Big Red gum for 25 cents,” he said. “I grew up with the best parents, but we had very, very little. I learned early on if I wanted a shiny new thing or wanted to take a girl out to a movie, it was entirely on me. There was no other choice. I had to earn everything.”

BYRD MET a different kind of adversity in his mission to revitalize the Columbia Falls economy. He said while organizing the community market, the idea was shot down repeatedly. When he approached city officials about a new logo, he was told it would be impossible to get a group of people to agree to one image. When he was asking for lights on the soccer field, he was told it would cost too much.

“Those people had no idea who they were messing with,” Byrd said with a laugh. “Hearing that motivates me. Now, having achieved those things, it’s easier for future projects.”

Byrd said people’s doubts begin to fall when one can prove that new ideas aren’t presented for personal gain, but for the community and the next generation.

“We’ve seen a lot of generations in this town,” Byrd said. “You’re seeing a revitalization now. I think it just takes a small group of like-minded people willing to recognize a need and then do everything possible to achieve it.”

Next on Byrd’s plate is a project for Nucleus Avenue. Near the U.S. 2 intersection sits a vacant lot he hopes to transform into a beacon for the town with a new welcome sign, big boulders, flowers and trees. Byrd is currently working with the city and business leaders to make the idea a reality.

“That road was glorious at one time and has faded certainly, and people drive right by it,” he said. “We need a focal point that will draw more attention to our old downtown district and entice people to come downtown and see all of our wonderful businesses.”

Byrd hopes the project could break ground next spring.

He had one message for the town, specifically for anyone who sees someone else working to lift up Columbia Falls. Rather than hastily cast doubt, Byrd said, “Ask them if they need any help. They probably do.”

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.