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 — The Illini Solar Car drew attention on Monday morning, July 22, 2024, as it navigated through Alton and made a notable turn at the Clark Bridge. This event is part of the national annual racing challenge, a competition featuring solar-powered vehicles traveling across the U.S. The sola...
Mark Springman, affectionately known as "Cat Daddy," and his partner Judy Egelhoff celebrated nearly 38 years of Catdaddy's, a cherished bar in downtown Alton. Catdaddy's has officially been sold and the new ownership will take over soon with what is described as the same community approach. The...
ALTON – Alton community activist Abe Lee Barham lauded President Joe Biden on Monday, July 22, 2024, following Biden's announcement to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. “He has done what he has always done, putting our country, the American working-class family, and his party ahea...
- United States Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement regarding President Joe Biden: "No one has done more for working Americans than Joe Biden—and so many of us owe him a debt of gratitude for everything he’s done to improve our country. "Over more than...
HARDIN - The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office continued its crackdown on illegal drugs with another traffic stop arrest in Hardin on July 5, 2024. At 1:58 p.m. on July 5, 2024, Chief Deputy Zach Hardin of the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on Park St. in the Village of...
WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Joe Biden said in a social media post on Sunday, July 21, 2024, that he is "standing down" from re-election against Republican Donald Trump. Biden says he is not seeking reelection in a letter to X on his official account. Biden says he will speak to the nation later thi...
ALTON — The Spencer T. Olin Golf Course at Gordon Moore Park, operated by Vern Van Hoy's company STO, LLC, has been out of action since a mine collapse/sinkhole developed on the adjacent soccer field. Despite the closure, STO has continued to maintain the course, a task Van Hoy describes as...
EDWARDSVILLE – The Clinton, Iowa, LumberKings broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh to win the first game of a doubleheader 1-0, then scored the winning run in the top of the seventh in taking a 4-3 win in sweeping a doubleheader from the Alton River Dragons in the Prospect...
ALTON – Jamison Hartweger, a resident of Cottage Hills and a representative of Strategic BJJ Alton, has quickly become a beacon of inspiration for his family and fellow trainees. Hartweger claimed a mixed martial arts victory in his first fight via TKO at Shamrock FC 354 on Friday, May 10,...
ALTON - Michael Haynes, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Alton, has been in a critical role since the sinkhole situation developed at the soccer fields at Gordon Moore Park. Haynes has been highly involved in moving or canceling events at the park that occur soon or early in the fall...
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