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.
ALTON Alton School District 11 representatives said its team assessed local streets before deciding to proceed with regular school operations on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. The school district officials said the following: "Parents are advised to monitor the My Ride app for bus schedule updates, as driver...
ALTON — The Illinois Department of Transportation is actively working to manage road conditions amid ongoing snowfall affecting St. Clair, Madison, and Monroe counties, officials said Monday evening, Dec. 1, 2025. Joe Monroe, an operations engineer with the department, provided an update aroun...
ALTON — Charges have been filed against a local man in connection with a robbery at a Walgreens store on Nov. 28, 2025, the Alton Police Department announced Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Marc D. Reynolds, 37, of Alton, faces charges of aggravated robbery and resisting a peace officer following...
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — St. Louis County Police announced the identification of a victim in the homicide that occurred in the 10000 block of Cloverdale Drive in St. Louis County on Nov. 26, 2025, as Bryola Carter, 25. Carter resided at that location and was transported to a nearby hospital...
ALTON - Dr. Ed Hightower was a driving force behind the new Alton Sunnybrook Affordable Housing Development at 767 Washington Avenue in Alton. The development will provide 40 apartments for families earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income, or $60,180 for a household of three. Dr. Hightower...
BETHALTO - Olivia Wiley, a sophomore cross country runner, was recognized as the Civic Memorial Female Runner of the Year at the Alton Road Runners Banquet on Sunday night, Nov. 30, 2025. Wiley, who served as the team’s number one runner throughout the season, posted a personal record time...
VENICE - Dr. Ed Hightower recognized the drastic need for a grocery store for citizens in the Venice, Brooklyn and Madison areas, and, thanks to a personal donation and intense efforts by him, it is becoming a reality. A new grocery store in Venice is set to be built in the near future, addressing...
ALTON - The Metro East and St. Louis region is being hit with heavier snow than predicted. Some areas north of St. Louis may end up receiving up to 5 inches of snowfall. Other areas are expected to receive around 3-4 inches of snowfall. National Weather Service in St. Louis Meteorologist Jared Maples...
ALTON — The Alton Fire Department encountered a very tragic situation early Monday morning, Dec. 1, 2025, when they discovered a man and a dog who had died in a fire. The blaze broke out around 2:30 a.m. Dec. 1 in the 900 block of Rixon in Alton. Firefighters arrived to find a single-story hom...
FOSTERBURG - Fosterburg Fire Protection District Chief Don Palmer reported a sledding accident involving a 14-year-old girl in a rural Straube Lane area on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2025. Palmer said emergency responders were dispatched at 2:27 p.m. on Sunday to the Fosterburg scene. The girl...
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