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 — The Granite City Police Department has welcomed Freddy Edwards back after he graduated from the Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy and is preparing to begin field training with the department. Edwards, a Granite City High School alumnus and former college football...
EAST ST. LOUIS — Grandparents Day at James Avant Elementary School in East St. Louis School District 189 on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, brought students and their grandparents together for a day filled with celebration and connection. The event honored the important role grandparents play...
BRIGHTON - A motorcycle was struck by a car at 7:29 a.m. Monday on Crystal Lake Road just east of Grange Hall Road in Brighton, resulting in a head injury to the motorcyclist, authorities said. The victim, a 38-year-old man, was riding the motorcycle when he was hit by a car driven by an 18-year-old...
CASEYVILLE — The Caseyville Police Department announced the arrest and charging of two men in connection with a series of burglaries and thefts targeting local businesses between May and September 2025. On September 5, officers apprehended Jerry L. B. McCallister, 39, of Granite City, and...
MADISON COUNTY — Deputies Jonas Barnes and Max Ringering graduated from the Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy, Session 156, and received awards during the ceremony, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office announced this week. Deputy Barnes was honored with the Southwestern...
BELLEVILLE - Steven Brown ran for three touchdowns for Belleville Althoff Catholic, while quarterback Blake Gelly had two touchdown passes and ran for a third for Highland, as the defending IHSA Class 1A champion Crusaders outlasted the Bulldogs 42-26 in a highly entertaining football game played...
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 WEEK TWO PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD Carlinville 41, Gillespie 7 Pana 33, Piasa Southwestern 0 Staunton 42, Virden North Mac 20 Quincy 33, Alton 7 Indianapolis Lawrence Central 61, Edwardsville 21 Belleville East 25, Pekin 13 Belleville Althoff Catholic 42,...
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville, Triad, and other area girls tennis teams are off to a good start at the annual Heather Bradshaw Invitational tournament, being played this weekend at the Edwardsville Tennis Center. The tournament honors the memory of Bradshaw, a teacher and assistant tennis coach at...
BELLEVILLE — Ehtar Belleville FC, a semi-professional men’s soccer team competing in the Midwest Premier League, secured its first division championship in late July 2025 following a 2-0 victory over Club Atletico Saint Louis at Althoff Catholic High School. Founded in 2022, Ehtar FC...
HARDIN — Mia Lieberman set a single-match school record for kills with 21 to lead the Father McGivney Catholic Griffins to a 25-18, 26-28, 25-20 victory over Calhoun on Thursday night, Sept. 4, 2025, at Calhoun. Lieberman’s performance was a key factor in the win, supported by Elli Moody’...
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