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.
CALHOUN COUNTY — A propane tank explosion and fire in the Calhoun Point hunting area injured three people Sunday morning, prompting a multi-agency emergency response, officials said. The Point Fire Protection District received a call at approximately 9:50 a.m. reporting an explosion and fire...
PEORIA — Gillespie’s Chaz Oberkfell captured the 1A IHSA State Championship in cross country on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, with a commanding time of 14 minutes, 32.1 seconds at the state meet held in Peoria. Oberkfell led the field decisively, finishing ahead of Evan Knobloch, who placed...
CARROLLTON — Carrollton’s balanced passing attack propelled the Hawks to a 34-19 victory over Dupo in a second-round IHSA Class 1A football playoff game Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Carrollton. Quarterback Carson Flowers led the way, completing 24 of 37 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns...
PEORIA — Civic Memorial senior Max Weber claimed the individual title at the IHSA 2A State Cross Country Meet on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Detweiller Park in Peoria. Weber completed the three-mile course in 14 minutes, 8.5 seconds, edging out Gabriel Greer of Marion by nearly two seconds. Weber’...
HARDIN — Calhoun slipped past Greenfield-Northwestern 22-14 in an overtime thriller during the second round of the IHSA Class 1A playoffs Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Calhoun High School. The closely contested game saw both teams trading scores throughout regulation before Calhoun secured the...
PEORIA — Civic Memorial High School’s boys cross country team achieved a historic milestone by finishing ninth overall at the IHSA State Finals on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Detweiller Park in Peoria. This marks the best finish in the school’s history. The team’s standout...
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Firefighter Joey Cruz was honored with an Employee Excellence Award last week for his fire safety outreach to preschoolers at the Edwardsville YMCA. The award recognized Cruz’s interactive and educational sessions designed to teach young children about fire safety....
ROXANA — The Roxana High School football team will face St. Joseph-Ogden in the second round of the Illinois High School Association Class 3A playoffs at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Roxana High School. The game will be streamed live on Riverbender.com, thanks to the Roxana Booster Club...
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — Mayor Mark Kupsky presented a $5,000 donation to the Fairview Heights Area Food Pantry on Thursday morning, Nov. 6, 2025, to support families facing increased food insecurity amid the ongoing government shutdown and cuts to SNAP benefits. The donation aims to help th...
EAST ST. LOUIS - Cynthia Roller, a seventh and eighth-grade English language arts teacher at Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence in East St. Louis School District 189, has been named an honoree for Emerson’s 2025 Excellence in Teaching Awards. The recognition highlights her dedication...
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