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.
PONTOON BEACH/ALTON - A family in the Metro East is mourning the death of 17-year-old Janecia Gardner after a fatal crash in Pontoon Beach, and is raising money to help cover funeral and medical costs, as her sister, Quinessa Gardner, was also hospitalized after the accident. The crash happened...
EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has created a new Theater and Dance Hall of Fame as part of the program’s 50th anniversary celebration, and Edwardsville High School theater director Ashley Melton is among the inaugural honorees, Edwardsville High School Orchestra Director...
EDWARDSVILLE — A crash involving a Ford Edge SUV and a Suzuki motorcycle sent the motorcycle driver to an area hospital Wednesday night, May 6, 2026, authorities said. The incident occurred around 8:20 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Troy Road and Fifth Avenue in Edwardsville. The Edwardsville...
GRANITE CITY - Granite City Community Unit School District #9 partnered with the Granite City Tree Advisory Board to mark Arbor Day on Monday, May 4, 2026, with tree-planting events at Frohardt Elementary School and Grigsby Elementary School in Granite City. The celebration, which had been scheduled...
GODFREY - Izzi Hough was a catalyst for Marquette Catholic's girls soccer team on Monday, May 4, 2026, with two goals in a 2-0, rain-shortened win over Maryville Christian at Glazebrook Park. Alex Stephan and Grace Fischer each had an assist on Hough's goals. Jessica Eales posted a shutout in goal....
JERSEY COUNTY - A Jerseyville man who died late Sunday, May 3, 2026, after a one-car crash on Delhi Road near Hill Drive in Jersey County has been identified by the Jersey County Coroner's Office. Jersey County Coroner Kevin Ayres identified the victim as Ronald L. Barnett, 56, of Jerseyville. Th...
ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office has issued a statement following a fatal stabbing of a 27-year-old third-party contractor around 2:40 a.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026. The stabbing occurred just outside Busch Stadium in the 700 block of Clark Avenue in St. Louis and involved tw...
BETHALTO - Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto is recognizing school nurse Cheryl Whitman on School Nurses Day, praising her for providing care and support to students and staff, Civic Memorial Principal Justin Newell said. Principal Newell describes Whitman as “our incredible...
WOOD RIVER - Jerald Downs, a junior at East Alton-Wood River High School, is being recognized for his baseball skills, crediting his ability to stay calm in high-stress situations and remain focused as his best traits. Downs said he has played baseball since he was 7 and is drawn to the sport’s...
PONTOON BEACH - Madison County Coroner Nicholas P. Novacich on Monday identified two female passengers who died after a two-car crash late Saturday night, May 2, 2026, in Pontoon Beach. The victims were Janecia N. Gardner, 32, of Pontoon Beach, and La Traya N. Hughes, 17, of Alton, Novacich said i...
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