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.
ALTON - A man was seriously injured late Sunday night, Sept. 14, 2025, after being trapped beneath his vehicle following a rollover crash in the 800 block of Oakwood in Alton. Firefighters responded quickly to the scene at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday after receiving a call reporting the rollover crash with...
EAST ST. LOUIS — Avant Elementary School in East St. Louis has opened a new School Food Pantry, a development aimed at increasing access to essential food and resources for families in the East St. Louis School District 189. The pantry, launched in partnership with the St. Louis Are...
MADISON COUNTY - The Madison County Sheriff’s Office held a retirement ceremony today to honor Sgt. Darren Onwiler, who concluded a 20-year career in law enforcement. Sgt. Onwiler began his service with the department in 2005 and retired after serving in several roles, including Community-Oriented...
COLLINSVILLE - Collinsville parents Megan and Zack Atchison are facing an uncertain medical journey after their son, Maverick, stopped eating on Sept. 1, 2025. Initially suspecting reflux or colic, the family sought care at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis, where a series of tests...
ALTON - Marquette Catholic’s football team delivered a commanding 48-0 victory over East Alton-Wood River on Saturday, Sept 13, 2025, at Public School Stadium. The Explorers improved their record to 2-1 with the shutout win, while East Alton-Wood River dropped to 0-3. Jack Rea led Marquette’s...
O'FALLON - O'Fallon Police Department partnered with the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois in a fundraising event held Thursday evening, Sept. 11, 2025, at the O'Fallon Police Department. The third annual "Let's Go to Jail for Special Olympics Illinois" event...
EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville High football team staged a gallant comeback from a 26-7 halftime deficit, but two returns for touchdowns in the first half proved to be their undoing, as the Tigers fell in a game played Friday night at Tiger Stadium. Edwardsville is now 0-3 for the first...
GRANITE CITY — Five felony charges were filed against Montez Williams, 36, of Cahokia Heights, following a stolen ambulance pursuit that ended in a crash early Thursday. The incident began on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, when a patient in a MedStar Ambulance took control of the vehicle shortly...
HARDIN - Calhoun County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Jerseyville man after a high-speed traffic stop attempt and subsequent river escape on August 23, 2025. At approximately 6:15 p.m. on Aug. 23, 2025, Calhoun Sheriff William Heffington tried to stop a vehicle near the intersection of Illinois...
ALTON - Marquette Catholic's girls tennis squad was spectacular in every match in a 9-0 triumph over Granite City at Gordon Moore Park. Granite City also played the Explorers in close fashion in several matches and showed significant talent on its squad from the No. 1 players all the way down to th...
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