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.
SPRINGFIELD, IL. - Members of the Illinois National Guard’s Staff Judge Advocate Corps gathered on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the Illinois National Guard’s headquarters on Camp Lincoln in Springfield, where Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, the adjutant general of Illinois and commander of the Illinois...
MARYVILLE, IL. - Wade Kamadulski, a student at Maryville Christian School, spent a day patrolling Maryville, Illinois, alongside Officer Sinclair as the Maryville Police Department’s “Student Officer of the Day,” taking part in a series of activities meant to provide...
ST. CLAIR COUNTY - The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department held its annual Fallen Officer Memorial Service on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at Christ Church in Fairview Heights, honoring officers “who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our community.” The department...
ALTON — Prosecutors in Madison County have filed a felony theft charge against a Chicago man after Alton police investigated what they described as a theft by deception that took nearly $64,000 from a local business earlier this year. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office,...
THURSDAY, MAY 7 PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS SCOREBOARD BASEBALL Carrollton 7, Carlinville 3 Breese Mater Dei Catholic 13, Metro-East Lutheran 8 O'Fallon 10, Collinsville 9 Columbia 4, Salem 2 Effingham St. Anthony Catholic 11, Father McGivney Catholic 10 Belleville West 1, Alton 0 Roxana...
ALTON - Edwardsville's Sophie Shapiro and Joi Story emerged as double winners in the Southwestern Conference Girls Meet on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at Alton. Shapiro won the 100 hurdles (14.07) and the 300 hurdles (42.05). Story won the shot put (12.79 meters) and the discus (44.31 meters). Tigers...
ALTON - Alton's Rayna Raglin pulled off a rare triple win in individual events in a stunning performance at the Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Southwestern Conference Girls Track and Field Meet at Alton. Alton was fifth as a team with 57 points. Edwardsville won the meet with 188 points. Raglin won the...
MARYVILLE, Ill. — The Maryville Police Department issued 21 citations for distracted driving violations and four other citations in April during an aggressive Distracted Driving Awareness Month Enforcement Campaign, the department said. “Distracted driving remains a serious problem in...
GODFREY - Marquette Catholic's girls soccer team got a timely breakthrough goal from junior Riley Tiemann and added an insurance goal from senior Maddie Waters to beat rival Granite City 2-0 on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at Glazebook Park in Godfrey. The win lifted Marquette to 12-4-2 overall. The...
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