March 19, 2024

Support pouring out for NV alum who was in car accident

The Nodaway Valley communities, and beyond, are rallying in support of Toby Bower who was airlifted to a Des Moines hospital from the scene of a one-car accident he was in the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the corner of 310th Street and Victor Avenue.

According to an Adair County Sheriff report, Bower’s vehicle, a 2009 Ford Fusion, was eastbound on 310 Street at about 6:30 a.m. and left the roadway for unknown reasons. The vehicle came to rest, after striking a power pole guy wire and an embankment. The Orient Fire Department and Adair County Ambulance assisted the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and Lifeflight on scene.

Bower, a 2020 graduate of Nodaway Valley High School, was involved in many activities while in high school and still lives and works in the area.

A GoFundMe page called “Help with Toby’s Medical Expenses” has been started. For those who are not comfortable giving online, a fund has been started at Union State Bank. Bower filmed a short video message from the hospital that was shared widely on Facebook Thursday where he thanked friends, family and others for their support during this tough time.

The evening of the crash, when the Wolverine volleyball team played at Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center in a regional tournament match, players wore the number 30 on their shoes, as that was the number Bower wore in basketball. The ACGC student section also had signs in support of Bower. The Nodaway Valley student section wore black shirts with 30 on the back, too.

At the cross country meet the same day at Panorama, as runners battled for a trip to state, the Wolverine teams each found their own ways to support Bower. The girls wore green head bands for spinal cord injury awareness and both teams had some runners who wore blue, Bower’s favorite color, as they ran.


Caleb Nelson

Caleb Nelson

Caleb Nelson has served as News Editor of the Adair County Free Press and Fontanelle Observer since Oct. 2017. He and his wife Kilee live in Greenfield. In Greenfield and the greater Adair County area, he values the opportunity to tell peoples' stories, enjoys playing guitar, following all levels of sports, and being a part of his local church.