Dan Brannan is Content Director of RiverBender and EdGlenToday.com. Dan started at Riverbender.com/Edglentoday.com in December 2014. He is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with degrees in Journalism and Psychology. Having previously served as the Executive Editor of The Telegraph in Alton, his 17-year tenure led the paper to over 350 awards including several General Excellence awards in the Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press, Freedom Communications, Southern Illinois Editorial Association and Journal Register Company contests. Brannan was chosen to lead Freedom Communications' national pilot on social media.
He is the author of eight nonfiction books including: "The Courage to Live," a biography about Donna Gustavel, a young woman with multiple disabilities; "Everyday Angels," an inspirational book of moving human interest stories; "Live Life to the Fullest: Stories of People Coping With Diabetes" which is endorsed by the American Diabetes Association; "Boy Giant: The Story of Robert Wadlow The World's Tallest Man;" "Damn Cold and Starving" written with Sgt. Marion Ray; "You Can't Kill the Dream" co-written with fellow journalist Ande Yakstis; and "A Life in Parts," the story of Loretta Goebel and endorsed by Beatle Paul McCartney.
Dan, an avid exercise enthusiast, is a member of the American Diabetes Association and lives in Maryville. Dan has two children in college - Savannah and Sierra.
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Police officers responded about 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, to a traffic incident on Illinois State Route 157 involving a motorcycle and a vehicle that left two people seriously injured and prompted a multi-hour road closure, authorities said in an update on Monday...
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on Sunday, April 12, 2026, filed felony charges against a 62-year-old Florissant man accused of shooting another man during an argument in the 13000 block of East Lakeridge Drive. Prosecutors charged William Borak, 62,...
EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Sheriff’s Office deputies and other area law enforcement responded on Friday, April 10, 2026, to a report of a barricaded subject in the 200 block of 3rd St. in unincorporated Collinsville. This incident affected traffic in the surrounding neighborhood...
GRANITE CITY - A Granite City church has had a series of unfortunate incidents over the past year, including stolen air-conditioning units, a failing roof, and a vehicle crash that damaged the church building. Shekinah Glory Church is attempting to cover more than $90,000 in repairs and replacements...
JERSEYVILLE — Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 is marking National Assistant Principals Week by spotlighting Kadie Benz, dean of students at Jersey Community High School. Benz reflected on her school experience, saying she did not have a single favorite subject in high school...
EAST ST. LOUIS - A growing number of East St. Louis Senior High School students will begin attending Southwestern Illinois College full-time while still in high school after qualifying through GPA requirements and ACCUPLACER placement scores, with School District 189 covering all program costs...
BELLEVILLE - Marquette Catholic's baseball squad lost a tough one to Althoff Catholic 9-8 on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Belleville. Jack Rea and Joe Stephan had big days for the Explorers with three and two hits, respectively. Eli Rodgers, Logan Sherman and Toby Eberlin added hits for Marquette....
BELLEVILLE - Marquette Catholic's girls overpowered Belleville Althoff Catholic in girls softball on Thursday afternoon, April 9, 2026, with a 13-1 triumph at Belleville. Marquette scored three runs in the first, four in the second, three in the third, and three runs in the fourth inning to post th...
MARYVILLE - A newly constructed roundabout at the intersection of Illinois Route 162 and Keebler Road opened to traffic on April 9, 2026, in Maryville, Illinois, following more than a decade of planning that local and state leaders pursued after a fatal crash at the site. The Village of Maryville...
MARYVILLE - Maryville Christian School’s LilyAnn Smith delivered a dominant start Thursday, April 9, 2026, throwing a no-hitter as Maryville Christian rolled to an 18-0 girls softball win over Metro East Lutheran at Metro East Lutheran High School. The shutout victory on April 9, 2026, featured...
Did you know Riverbender.com is free for you thanks to our awesome advertisers? We noticed you're using an ad block software. Please give our sponsors some exposure by disabling your ad blocking service for Riverbender.com.
