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.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County police are investigating a fatal pedestrian collision that occurred Sunday evening, Jan. 4, 2026, near the intersection of Vescovo Drive and Lemay Ferry Road. Officers from the South County Precinct responded at 6:33 p.m. Jan. 4, 2026, after receiving a report...
ALTON — SCI Engineering's work to drain the soccer field sinkhole at Gordon Moore Park in Alton is underway in early January 2026. These are photos and video from Doug Booten of the early work on the sinkhole this week. SCI has stated it plans to drill small testing points into the ground...
EDWARDSVILLE – Rowan Weller led Edwardsville with 16 points, scoring key back-to-back baskets in the fourth quarter to hold off an O’Fallon rally as the Tigers turned back the Panthers 57-46 in a Southwestern Conference boys basketball game Tuesday night, Jan. 6, 2026, at Lucco-Jackson...
HAMEL — The Bread Of Life Food Pantry in Hamel is launching a capital campaign to raise funds for relocating and constructing a new pantry building, organizers announced this week. The project, approved by the Alhambra Hamel Ministerial Alliance, aims to build a facility just down the road from...
Click here to view the Staunton vs. Roxana game live on Riverbender.com. STAUNTON - In a Dec. 20, 2025, game against Calhoun, Bryce Coalson, a 6-foot-3 senior forward, had one of the "greatest shooting performances" Staunton's Head Boys Basketball Coach Ty Laux could ever remember. Coalson was...
STAUNTON - As high school teams head into the second half of the season, Staunton boys basketball is standing tall with a 10-1 overall record. The Bulldogs meet another top-notch team, Roxana, who has an 11-4 overall mark on the season at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. The game will be live...
EDWARDSVILLE - After 42 years of law enforcement service, Director Robert Rizzi has retired from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, officials have announced. Director Rizzi concluded his career after serving as Director of Special Operations at the Madison County Sheriff’s...
GILLESPIE - Calhoun captured its ninth win with a 58-18 boys basketball thumping of Gillespie on Monday night, Jan. 5, 2026, at Gillespie. Lane Eilerman had 12 points, Rodney Johnson had 10 points, Charlie Matthews had 7 points, Jacob Brannan had 6 points, and Jack Zipprich had 5 points. Easton Wallendorf,...
GRANITE CITY - Sydney Houston emerged as a key player for Granite City High School’s girls golf team during the fall 2025 season, demonstrating consistent performance and skill on the course. The senior golfer, recognized as the Stillwater Senior Living Female Athlete of the Month, is praised...
PETERSBURG - Chloe McAdams had a game-high 23 points, and Blake Driskill and Hayden McMurtie both poured in 16 points each to propel Carrollton to a 73-56 victory over Porta/Ashland-Chanderville Central at Porta High School in Petersburg on Monday, Jan. 6, 2026. The Hawks are now 14-4 overall on th...
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.
