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.
GILLESPIE/CARLINVILLE - A Carlinville man was charged May 18, 2026, by the Macoupin County State’s Attorney’s Office with aggravated assault on a peace officer and resisting a peace officer after authorities alleged he attempted to strike a Gillespie police officer with a baseball...
ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals announced Wednesday, June 24, 2026, that Bill DeWitt III has been named chief executive officer and Anuk Karunaratne has been named president of business operations, marking a leadership transition within the organization’s executive team while Bill...
JERSEYVILLE - Athletes from the Jersey Community High School Special Olympics track and field team competed at the state meet recently, with several students earning top-three finishes on June 12-14, 2026, at the Illinois State University (ISU) campus in Normal, IL. The Jersey Community Schoo...
TROY, Ill. - Triad High School’s debate team made its first appearance this year at the National Speech & Debate Tournament in Richmond, Va., where students Connor Pearce, Morgan Barnett, and Daniel Winfield represented both the school and the Greater Illinois District in World Schools...
EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Sheriff Marcos D. Pulido has graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, completing an invitation-only leadership program for experienced law enforcement officers, the sheriff’s office announced. Pulido was...
BRIGHTON - The Brighton Fire Department responded about 7:15 p.m. Sunday, June 22, 2026, to a reported structure fire near U.S. Highway 67 and Smitty Lane, where arriving crews found an approximately 90-by-40-foot metal structure heavily involved, according to the Brighton Betsey Ann...
EDWARDSVILLE - A female driver was taken to an area hospital after a two-vehicle crash about 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, 2026, on Center Grove Road near Tiger Drive, where police said witnesses reported seeing her black Ford passenger vehicle swerving before the collision. Edwardsville Police said...
COLLINSVILLE/EDWARDSVILLE - A Collinsville man was found guilty Tuesday, June 23, 2026, of aggravated battery after prosecutors said he struck a victim in the leg with a machete during a Fourth of July gathering outside an apartment complex in Collinsville, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom...
TUESDAY, JUNE 23 PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS SCOREBOARD AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL Jerseyville Post 492 juniors 14, Alton Post 126 juniors 2 Alton Post 126 4, Elsberry, Mo. Post 226 1 FRONTIER LEAGUE BASEBALL Florence Y'Alls 10, Gateway Grizzlies 7 PROSPECT LEAGUE BASEBALL Cape...
ALTON - Justice Drainer had a big night at the plate with four hits and five RBIs, while Brody Short also had four hits, and struck out four on the mound, to help Jerseyville Post 492 scored in every inning but the fourth in taking a 14-2 win over Alton Post 126's junior American Legion baseball tea...
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