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.
COLLINSVILLE - Collinsville High School’s production of “Between the Lines” won four awards after receiving seven nominations at the 2026 Ken Page Awards, an annual celebration of high school musical theatre in the St. Louis region, during a recent ceremony at the Fox Theatre...
WOOD RIVER - The Wood River Police Department said it recently concluded an undercover narcotics investigation at a residence in the 500 block of North 1st Street in Wood River, Illinois, culminating in the execution of a search warrant at about 6:15 a.m. June 12, 2026, with the detention...
BELLEVILLE - Three suspects were taken into custody after a report of a possible attempted home invasion and subsequent gunfire in St. Clair County. The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department said that through the 911 communications center, it received a call on Wednesday, June 10th,...
CHARLESTON, IL. - Charleston officials began a storm relief food distribution at noon Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Eastern Illinois University’s Doudna Fine Arts Center, offering free food, bottled water, and refreshments to residents affected by severe storms that hit the area on Wednesday,...
SOUTH ROXANA - South Roxana residents, families, and guests are invited to a free community celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 3, 2026, at Connect Church, 1417 Herbert St., in South Roxana, according to Village Administrator and Chief of Police Bob Coles. The event will include a fireworks...
BELLEVILLE/EST ST. LOUIS - A Belleville, Illinois, man who pleaded guilty to possessing a machine gun was sentenced in federal court in East St. Louis to eight years in prison, authorities said, a punishment that will be served in addition to any sentence he may receive in a pending Missouri...
ST. LOUIS — Olin Corp., a St. Louis-based chemical manufacturer and former Fortune 500 company, is expected to merge with Huntsman Corp. in an all-stock deal announced Tuesday, June 16, 2026, that would create a new company called OlinHuntsman headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas. The preliminary...
EDWARDSVILLE — Katie Albrecht and Emma Gusewelle have concluded their senior years at Metro East Lutheran High School after standout bowling careers that included all-conference recognition and postseason competition. The two girls are BJ's Printables Female Athletes of the Month for MELHS....
EDWARDSVILLE/GLEN CARBON - Jimmy John’s has closed its location at 1063 South Route 157 in Edwardsville and plans to reopen later this month in June 2026 at 99 Magnolia in Glen Carbon, according to an announcement at the former site and an employee at the chain’s other Glen Carbon location....
ALTON/GODFREY/HARDIN - A tornado watch has been issued for all of the region until 10 p.m. CDT, as storms developing north of Quincy and in northern Missouri could intensify and move toward the St. Louis area later Wednesday night, June 17, 2026, according to the National Weather Service in St. Louis...
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