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.
GRANITE CITY - Collinsville’s offense struck early, then delivered a decisive late surge to pull away for a 20-6 nonconference softball win on Thursday, April 23, 2026, over Granite City on the road. Collinsville scored three runs in each of the first three innings to build a 9-0 lead before...
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville dominated a Twilight Invitational Meet at EHS on Thursday night, April 23, 2026, with 175.5 points. The next finishers were Normal University (98), then Bloomington (83), and O'Fallon (81). East St. Louis posted 67 points, Belleville East 65 points, Alton 26 points,...
ST. LOUIS - Journalist and former congressional candidate Ray Hartmann, a longtime fixture on the Nine PBS political commentary show “Donnybrook” and founder of the Riverfront Times, was killed Thursday, April 23, 2026, in a car crash on Interstate 64 in St. Louis County, Mo. He was 7...
ALTON - Marquette Catholic kept undefeated in boys dual tennis play with a 5-4 win against Waterloo at home on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Marquette Catholic (Alton) - 5, Waterloo (H.S.) - 4 Singles: No. 1 - Hubert Allen, Marquette Catholic (Alton) def. Garrett Schimpf, Waterloo (H.S.), 6-2,...
EAST ALTON - East Alton Police and firefighters responded early Friday, April 24, 2026, to a rollover crash on Illinois Route 3 south of the red light intersection in front of Weiland, sending two drivers to Alton hospitals as investigators worked to determine what caused the wreck. The crash...
PIASA - Southwestern's boys edged Marquette Catholic 99-82 in a five-way meet at Southwestern recently, but in the girls division, Marquette topped the Southwestern squad 93-79. Greenfield-Northwestern won the boys meet with 109 points, and North Greene captured the girls meet with 95 points; Greenfield...
GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney Catholic recorded a narrow team victory over Metro East Lutheran in the Brandon Ahring Memorial Boys Meet on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at McGivney track, posting 131 points to MELHS' 123. Althoff Catholic was third with 77 points, Breese Mater Dei fourth with 71 points,...
GLEN CARBON - The Brandon Ahring Memorial Girls Meet at Father McGivney on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, showcased several top performances on the part of each team entered. Father McGivney's girls won the meet with 180 points. Althoff Catholic was second with 102 points, Breese Mater Dei posted 70 points,...
ALTON - The Alton Police Department assisted the U.S. Marshals Service this morning in the 2900 block of Fernwood Avenue in Alton during a fugitive apprehension that ended with an 18-year-old Wood River man taken into custody on an active warrant, police said. The individual was identified as Peyton...
FREEBURG — Marquette Catholic broke open a scoreless match with four second-half goals to beat Freeburg 4-0 on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Freeburg, earning its sixth win of the season. The game was tied 0-0 at halftime before Marquette found its breakthrough after the break. Riley Jacobs...
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