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.
GRANITE CITY — Granite City School District #9 honored local first responders during a halftime ceremony Tuesday night, Jan. 13, 2026, at a basketball game, recognizing police officers, firefighters, paramedics and EMTs for their service to the community. The event, held at the Granite City...
WHITE HALL - Calhoun/Brussels defeated Western 35-23 on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at the Lady Spartan Classic at North Greene High School, advancing to the semifinals against West Central. The game, held at the Lady Spartan Classic tournament, featured a slow start for Calhoun, but the team caught...
ALTON — The Alton Branch NAACP will host a community event to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, at the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 2621 Amelia St. in Alton. The event, themed “The Fierce Urgency of Now,” invites community members,...
ALTON — The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) restaurant located at 181 Homer M. Adams Parkway in Alton will close permanently after Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. The announcement was posted on the restaurant’s front door on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, informing customers of the upcoming...
GRANITE CITY - Evan Brewer led Granite City with 22 points, while Antonio Dean added 19 points, and Javier Cass came up with 13 points, as the Warriors used a 12-0 first-quarter run to help defeat Highland 64-41 in a boys basketball game played Tuesday night at Granite City Memorial Gym. The...
ST. LOUIS - A cold front moved through the St. Louis region Wednesday morning, Jan. 14, 2026, ushering in the first push of Arctic air and marking a significant drop in temperatures for the area in the coming days, according to the National Weather Service. National Weather Service Meteorologist Jare...
EDWARDSVILLE - Brady Niemi hit on six threes, five in the first half, and led Edwardsville with 20 points, while both Devyon Hill-Lomax and Miccah Butler added 13 points each as Edwardsville used a hot start, outscoring St. Louis Gateway STEM in the first quarter 20-2 en route to a 64-30 win ove...
ALTON — On Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 13, 2026, a vehicle struck a building near 1650 Washington Avenue in Alton after reportedly leaving the Walgreens parking lot and crossing the street, according to local authorities. At approximately 1:08 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2026, the Alton Police Department receive...
ALTON — SCI Engineering has made notable progress this week in draining a sinkhole that formed beneath the soccer field at Gordon Moore Park, city officials said Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. The sinkhole draining started on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. The sinkhole, which developed above a mine operate...
WINCHESTER - Calhoun defeated Triopia 57-43 in a high school basketball game Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in the Winchester Tournament. The win sets up a game at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, for Calhoun against West Central in the tournament. The Saturday game featured a close first half,...
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