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.
PIASA — Josie Hagen, a senior athlete at Southwestern High School, has signed a letter of intent to play softball and attend Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville. Hagen's career batting average at Southwestern High is .328, with 83 hits and 77 RBI since her freshman year. Josie is...
COLLINSVILLE - Collinsville's Ashley Janini started the season off with a big game, collecting 15 points in a dominant 47-14 Kahoks girls basketball win over Cahokia on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, at Vergil Fletcher Gymnasium. The Kahoks junior varsity squad secured a 51-10 win. Janini had a 3-for-4...
ALTON - Alton recently honored Ja'Kori Steen, the seventh-grade state champion in the girls' 100-meter hurdles, by dedicating a street sign at the entrance of Alton Middle School in her name. Steen, now an eighth grader, won the seventh-grade 4A state finals with a time of 15.52 seconds, narrowly...
COLUMBIA - Waterloo rallied to defeat Father McGivney Catholic 64-57 in overtime Tuesday night, Nov. 18, 2025, overcoming a strong comeback attempt by the Griffins in the season opener in the Columbia Tournament. The Bulldogs jumped out to a commanding 17-0 lead in the first quarter and held a 28-9...
O'FALLON, IL. - One person died Tuesday morning, Nov. 18, 2025, in a multi-vehicle crash in a construction zone on eastbound Interstate 64 near O’Fallon, IL., the Illinois State Police has reported. The crash occurred around 8 a.m. on Nov. 18, 2025, and involved two tractor-trailers, a utility...
COLUMBIA — The Columbia girls basketball team secured a 57-51 victory over Carlyle on Monday night, Nov. 17, 2025, in the Columbia Tournament despite limited practice time, drawing on the talents of several players fresh off their IHSA 2A State Girls Volleyball Tournament championship win over...
COLUMBIA - Allie Weiner had an exceptional game to start for Marquette Catholic as she led the Explorers with 17 points, while Delaney Ortman added nine points despite a 60-43 loss to Triad. Chayse Strickland added 8 points for the Explorers. Weiner led all scorers in the contest with her 17 points....
GRAFTON — A bobcat weighing approximately 25 pounds was recently spotted near the Tara Point Inn in Grafton. The sighting, captured by Rachel Peters, was shared on the Riverbender.com Facebook page on Nov. 18, 2025, as a Photo Of The Day. The medium-sized bobcat in Peters' photo was confirmed...
BELLEVILLE — A local family is facing an extraordinary challenge as their 13-year-old son, Richard Mothersell, battled two rare cancers simultaneously and died recently, prompting a community call for support. Richard Michael Mothersell, 13, of Belleville, was born on February 13, 2012, in Belleville...
DUPO - East Alton-Wood River edged Dupo 40-35 in the first round of the Cat Classic girls basketball tournament on Monday night, Nov. 17, 2025. The Oilers held a 7-5 lead after the first quarter, but Dupo tied the game at 12-12 by halftime. East Alton-Wood River then took a narrow 27-26 lead heading...
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