Dalton Brown, News Reporter

Dalton Brown joined Riverbender.com in January of 2022. He grew up in Jerseyville and graduated from Jersey Community High School in 2017. Dalton earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in Political Science. 

During his time at SIUE, Dalton worked as a Copy Editor for The Alestle, the university’s news organization with print and online operations. As a small, student-run newspaper, he often found himself filling the role of reporter and writer and regularly wrote news, lifestyle, and opinion pieces for The Alestle. He received recognition from the Illinois College Press Association for his writing.

Dalton also interned at The Hauser Group, a St. Louis-based Public Relations firm with several clients around the Greater St. Louis area and beyond. During his internship, he wrote newsletter content, social media posts, and several press releases which were featured in publications including Riverbender.com, the Alton Telegraph, the St. Louis Business Journal, and more.

Dalton now covers local business, government/politics, crime, and general news for Riverbender.com.

ALTON – Appointments to two key Alton commissions were approved this week by City Council members following delays and debate at their last meeting. City Council members unanimously approved two appointments at their May 27, 2026 meeting . These include the appointment of Mike Batchelor...
ALTON – Alton officials are holding off on creating a new dedicated fund for downtown festivals and events. At the May 26, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting , Alderwoman Martha Pfister moved to postpone a resolution to establish a Festival and Event Fund using Food and Beverage Tax revenue....
ALTON – An effort to change Alton’s residency requirements for certain city employees is once again on hold. At the Committee of the Whole meeting on May 26, 2026, Alderman Michael Velloff moved to lay over a resolution to amend a section of the Alton City Code regarding residency...
GODFREY – An Illinois man who allegedly hijacked someone’s vehicle while attempting to outrun police after being seen on video stealing from the Godfrey Walmart faces several criminal charges. Troy E. Chappell, 30, of Dorsey, Ill., was charged on May 21, 2026 with one count each of vehicula...
GODFREY – Plans for a new business offering liquor, tobacco, and video gaming in Godfrey are on hold as trustees await more detailed information, including its exact distance from a nearby school. Village Board members considered a business plan, liquor license, and gaming license for Sita...
ALTON – The mother of an Alton Middle School student faces felony charges after threatening to blow up and burn down the school and physically harm students. The 32-year-old Alton woman was charged on May 21, 2026 with a Class 4 felony count of disorderly conduct and a Class A misdemeanor...
GRANITE CITY – A Granite City man accused of impregnating a 16-year-old and possessing child sexual abuse material of the same victim currently remains in custody. Eli L. Winters, 26, of Granite City, was charged May 19, 2026, with one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault (a Class ...
ALTON/JERSEY – A Jerseyville man charged with fleeing from police and a Brighton man accused of assaulting someone with a vehicle face felonies in separate cases. Cody L. Wells, 33, of Jerseyville, was charged with a Class 4 felony count of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace...
GRANITE CITY – A Madison man who allegedly shot at an occupied vehicle with an illegally possessed handgun is currently in custody. Montez L. Fuller, 43, of Madison, Ill., was charged with two Class 1 felony counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one Class 2 felony count of felon...
GODFREY – An internet company’s plans to build a new underground fiber optic network in Godfrey were shut down by Village Board members this week. Trustees voted 0-6 in a unanimous rejection of a Right of Way license agreement with Socket Telecom LLC (or “Socket Fiber”)...