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.
TROY - Triad Trap Team Head Coach Bill Lawrence announced his retirement recently during the team’s annual banquet at the Edwardsville Gun Club, drawing a standing ovation from students, parents, coaches, alumni and supporters gathered at the clubhouse. Lawrence is retiring after eight...
COLLINSVILLE - The State Park Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a fully involved house fire in the 2900 block of Princeton Street in Collinsville on Wednesday morning, June 24, 2026. Mutual aid was requested, and crews from Fairmont City, Caseyville, and the French Village Fire Departments...
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - A 66-year-old Waterloo man died after an Illinois Route 157 crash late Wednesday morning, June 24, 2026, that also injured multiple people. The Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit assisted Cahokia Heights Police in the investigation, authorities said. Michael...
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - Members of the Cahokia Heights Fire Department joined city officials, community leaders, law enforcement officers and the Jonas family in Cahokia Heights to dedicate a stretch of Bond Avenue as “Lt. Gregory Jonas Memorial Avenue,” honoring the late lieutenant’s...
EAST ST. LOUIS - East St. Louis School District 189 Superintendent Arthur Culver told families the district was recently notified of the arrest of Chad D. Gray Jr. of New Baden, Illinois, on charges that reportedly include traveling to meet a child, grooming, indecent solicitation of a child, and...
GILLESPIE/CARLINVILLE - A Carlinville man was charged May 18, 2026, by the Macoupin County State’s Attorney’s Office with aggravated assault on a peace officer and resisting a peace officer after authorities alleged he attempted to strike a Gillespie police officer with a baseball...
ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals announced Wednesday, June 24, 2026, that Bill DeWitt III has been named chief executive officer and Anuk Karunaratne has been named president of business operations, marking a leadership transition within the organization’s executive team while Bill...
JERSEYVILLE - Athletes from the Jersey Community High School Special Olympics track and field team competed at the state meet recently, with several students earning top-three finishes on June 12-14, 2026, at the Illinois State University (ISU) campus in Normal, IL. The Jersey Community Schoo...
TROY, Ill. - Triad High School’s debate team made its first appearance this year at the National Speech & Debate Tournament in Richmond, Va., where students Connor Pearce, Morgan Barnett, and Daniel Winfield represented both the school and the Greater Illinois District in World Schools...
EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Sheriff Marcos D. Pulido has graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, completing an invitation-only leadership program for experienced law enforcement officers, the sheriff’s office announced. Pulido was...
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