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 – A Godfrey man with multiple open cases remains in custody after an alleged assault of an Alton resident with an illegally possessed firearm. Nathaniel W. Phipps, 21, of Godfrey, was charged on March 4, 2026 with one count each of aggravated unlawful possession of weapons (a Class...
WOOD RIVER – A residential burglary in Alton reportedly involving stolen body armor has resulted in a felony charge against a Wood River resident. Clayton W. Sitzes, 33, of Wood River, was charged on March 4, 2026 with a Class 1 felony count of residential burglary. Sitzes allegedly knowingly...
GLEN CARBON – The Village of Glen Carbon is one step closer to building its own water treatment plant. Village Board members unanimously approved a resolution on March 10, 2026 authorizing the Notice of Intent to award the bid for the water treatment plant to Korte Lutijohan Contractors, Inc....
ALTON – Alton officials are set to consider two special event requests and a new production company for the Alton Amphitheater. Multiple amphitheater-related items are on the Alton Committee of the Whole agenda for Monday, March 9, 2026 , including: A resolution authorizing the engagement...
GRANITE CITY – Two individuals accused of performing dental surgery without a license from inside a Granite City home both face felony charges in Madison County. Idania J. Morena-Paal, 41, of the 2500 block of Iowa Street in Granite City, and Rodolfo J. Figuera, 59, of Rolling Meadows, Ill.,...
GODFREY – Four different plans for a future recreation center in Godfrey will soon be made public. Trustee Gerard Fischer, who also chairs the Godfrey Recreation Center Committee, announced at the March 3, 2026 Village Board meeting that four architectural firms will give presentations...
WOOD RIVER – Certain fees are set to increase at the Wood River Rec Center and Belk Park Golf Course as the city seeks Madison County grants funds for park improvements. City Council members unanimously approved an ordinance updating rates and fees for the Belk Park Golf Course and Wood...
MADISON COUNTY – A Chicago-area man accused of sexually abusing someone at a Madison County rest area has been charged and released from custody. Bowala Rakkitha, 49, of Bolingbrook, Ill., was charged on Feb. 18, 2026 with one count each of criminal sexual abuse (a Class 4 felony) and aggravated...
WOOD RIVER – A new park with a stage, pavilion, and more may be coming to downtown Wood River. City Manager Steve Palen announced plans for a future “City Center Park” at the March 2, 2026 Wood River City Council meeting . Palen said the park would be built on the former site...
ALTON – An Alton resident accused of using Roblox and Google Chat to solicit a minor faces felony charges in Madison County. Dameon M. Spraggs, 22, of Alton, was charged on Dec. 5, 2025 with one count each of indecent solicitation of a child (a Class 3 felony) and grooming (a Class 4 felony)....
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