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.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St . Louis County Police Affton Southwest Precinct officers are investigating a motor vehicle crash that occurred on Sunday, November 23, 2025, on Tesson Ferry Road near Hagemann Road, resulting in the death of an adult female. At 10:42 p.m. Sunday, St. Louis County police...
COLLINSVILLE — Ameren Illinois employees turned generosity into action this Thanksgiving season, collecting and delivering over 20,000 pounds of food to local pantries across the state. This marks the fourth consecutive year of the company’s employee-led food drive, and participation continue...
ROXANA - The Roxana boys' cross country team placed second in the regional with 69 points, and that qualified the team for the Trenton-Wesclin Sectional. The Shells' scoring was led in the regional by Anthony Hardin, second (15:38.49), then came Noah Crump, eighth (16:35.89), Easton Johnston, 13th...
ALTON — The 32nd annual Community Tree Lighting at Lincoln-Douglas Square was once again a rousing success on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, featuring the arrival of Santa Claus, caroling, cookies, hot cocoa, and speeches. The event culminated at 6:45 p.m. Friday when Mayor David Goins hit the...
PIKE COUNTY — One person was killed and two others injured after a small plane crashed Sunday night, Nov. 23, 2025, in a field north of Interstate 72, west of Exit 35, according to the Pike County Sheriff’s Department. The department was notified of the possible crash at 9:39 p.m....
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Authorities have identified the man fatally shot by airport police officers during an early morning incident at St. Louis Lambert International Airport on Nov. 21, 2025. The deceased has been named as 31-year-old Darius Kennedy of Peoria, according to a statement from...
HARDIN — The Calhoun football Warriors 2025 team concluded their season with a 12-1 record, falling narrowly to Brown County 14-13 in the IHSA Class 1A playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. The Warriors remained competitive until the final seconds of the game, demonstrating strong effort...
ST. CLAIR COUNTY — Courtney Branon, a 35-year-old woman from Collinsville, died Tuesday morning in a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 64 in O’Fallon, authorities said. The fatal collision occurred around 8 a.m., Nov. 18, 2025. Branon was driving a Ford Bronco when she was involved...
HARDIN - Calhoun's football squad lost a IHSA Class 1A football playoff heartbreaker to Brown County 14-13 on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in front of a capacity crowd at Calhoun High School. Brown County's Eli Stanton ran 11 yards for a score with 2:47 left in the fourth quarter and then also ra...
ALTON/GODFREY - A fire broke out Saturday evening, Nov. 22, 2025, at the State Farm Insurance agency operated by Dwight Tungett in Godfrey in the 30 block of Delmar Avenue with an Alton address location, prompting a response from two local fire departments. The fire agencies arrived around 5:30...
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