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.
COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Police Department has named Officer Guiseppi Coppotelli as its August 2025 Officer of the Month in recognition of his proactive policing efforts. During August 2025, Collinsville's Coppotelli made 13 self-initiated felony arrests, including charges of aggravate...
EDWARDSVILLE - Jill Abernathy is organizing a fundraiser to support Anna Albinson, a member of the Triangle H Farm barn community in Edwardsville, after she was injured in an accident involving one of the horses. The incident, which required hospitalization, has led to mounting expenses for Anna’s...
MARYVILLE — Allison’s Friends of Hope Foundation donated $15,000 from its 2025 golf tournament to the Anderson Hospital Warren Billhartz Cancer Center on Monday, supporting the Anderson Friends of Hope Breast Diagnostic Center. The donation was presented earlier today to the Anderson Hospita...
EDWARDSVILLE — The Edwardsville High School Cheerleading Team will hold its 5th Annual Golf Scramble on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at Sunset Hills Country Club to raise funds supporting the program. The event will begin at 1 p.m. with a shotgun start at 2525 South State Route...
ALTON - Wanda Chancellor is organizing a fundraiser to raise money for a wheelchair-accessible van for 3-year-old Rhea Chancellor of Alton, who was left paralyzed from the neck down after a sudden and severe illness on Nov. 26, 2022. Rhea spent one month in the intensive care unit fighting for her...
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Fairview Heights Police responded early Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, to a report of a man armed with a rifle walking on MetroLink train tracks. At approximately 1:19 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2025, officers located the individual, who cooperated with authorities. Upon investigation,...
WOOD RIVER - The Marquette High School girls volleyball team secured third place at the East Alton-Wood River (EA-WR) tournament on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, following a series of competitive matches. Marquette opened the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Greenville, dropping the first set 14-25...
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12-13 PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS ROUNDUP FOOTBALL METRO EAST LUTHERAN 60, ST. THOMAS MORE 26 In other games played over the weekend, in an eight-man game played on Friday night, Metro-East Lutheran ran its record to 3-0 with a 60-26 win at Champaign St. Thomas More....
EAST ST. LOUIS — A Belleville man has entered a guilty plea to setting a fire in a Lebanon gas station bathroom. Carlos A. Rodriguez, 33, admitted to one count of arson of real property used in interstate commerce in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis. The fire occurred on the evening...
EDWARDSVILLE — Eric M. Blumenstock, 38, has been charged with two felonies stemming from incidents at the Madison County Courthouse on Sept. 10, 2025. Blumenstock faces a Class X felony count of Making Terrorist Threats. Authorities allege he intended to create fear by stating he planned to...
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