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.
JERSEYVILLE — Jersey junior softball sensation Anna Kribs delivered a record-setting performance at home, going 4 for 4 with three doubles and a home run as the Panthers rolled past Highland 11-1 on Monday, May 11, 2026. With the home run, Kribs broke Jersey’s single-season school record...
MARYVILLE - Marquette Catholic’s bats erupted early and often Monday, scoring nine runs in the first inning on the way to a 24-4 girls softball win over Maryville Christian in a Gateway Metro Conference softball game at Maryville. Marquette added one run in the second inning, six in the...
GRANITE CITY - Granite City High junior pitcher Michael Terry put together a dominant stretch on the mound this past week, going 2-0 with 16 strikeouts over 11 innings as the Warriors picked up wins Monday over Cahokia and later in the week against Carbondale. Terry opened the week in Granite City’...
BETHALTO - Civic Memorial High School will recognize seniors at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, ahead of the first pitch of the Highland at CM girls softball game, the school announced. Emma Wade and Grace Burton are also Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Female Athletes of the Month for...
Unemployment Rate Ticks Up Across All Metro Areas in March Champaign metro payrolls climb to 14 months of consecutive year over year growth SPRINGFIELD, IL. - Among area cities, Edwardsville had the lowest unemployment rate at 4.0% in March 2026, up from 3.1% in March 2025. Alton's unemployment...
JERSEYVILLE - Paxton Weirich delivered a no-hit performance and helped power Jersey to a 15-0 win over rival Marquette Catholic on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Jerseyville. Weirich, a sophomore, pitched four innings for the no-hitter, striking out eight Marquette batters as Jersey improved to 14-8....
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville's baseball squad is currently 9-1 in the Southwestern Conference, and has a chance to clinch the title in their two-game set against Collinsville this week, the final series of the season. "We control our own destiny," Edwardsville head coach Tim Funkhouser said, "an...
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County police detectives are investigating the drowning death of a 64-year-old man whose body was recovered Monday from Spanish Pond Lake after witnesses reported he may have fallen into the water while boating. Officers from the St. Louis County Police Department’s...
CHATHAM - The Marquette Catholic boys tennis team scored 21 points to win the 2026 Glenwood Chatham Invite, led by first-place finishes from Hubert Allen at No. 1 singles and Ryan Joehl at No. 2 singles. The invite was held at Glenwood-Chatham. Marquette Catholic’s point total was boosted...
JERSEYVILLE — Jersey Community High School's FFA chapter was recognized for a “successful year” at the Section 15 Banquet, where Jerseyville earned top Greenhand and Discovery team honors and placed second overall in the varsity team standings among 16 schools. Jersey...
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