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.
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — Schnucks grocery stores across the Midwest hosted their annual Hydrate Our Heroes beverage drive through Tuesday, July 16, 2024, collecting drinks to support local police, fire departments, and other first responders during the summer months. The Fairview Heights drive collected...
COLLINSVILLE – Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 students in grades K-12 will not be charged admission to any home athletic events held on a district campus. The new policy was approved by the Board of Education at their July 21, 2025 meeting....
TROY — Approximately 300 feet of Country Lane in Troy will be fully closed from Thursday, July 31, 2025, through Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, to allow for necessary reconstruction work, officials announced. The closure will begin at the intersection of Troy-O'Fallon Road. Residents affected by the...
EDWARDSVILLE — A visitation at Metro Community Church in Edwardsville on Sunday evening, July 20, 2025, showed the love and adoration of their previous pastor, with hundreds in attendance for hours. Many shared a common story or theme about Paul Westbrook: that he truly related to the congregation,...
ALTON - NeVaeh Bryant secured seventh place in the triple jump at the state meet on May 24, 2025, with a personal best leap of 11.64 meters (38 feet, 2 inches). The event took place as part of the state track and field championships. Throughout the 2024 and 2025 track and field seasons, the Redbirds'...
O'FALLON - O'Fallon Police Department will conduct a speed enforcement detail Wednesday, July 23, 2025, targeting drivers exceeding safe speeds across the city and throughout Illinois. The initiative aims to address speeding, which authorities say is a leading factor in motor vehicle crashes....
GODFREY - Margaret Freer announced on Monday, July 21, 2025, that the Christmas In July event held last Friday, July 18, 2025, at Freer Auto Body in Godfrey raised a record $76,000 for Community Christmas, surpassing last year’s goal of $75,000. Freer expressed surprise and gratitude over the...
EAST ST. LOUIS — A federal judge sentenced Daniel Robert, 48, of Houston, Texas, to life in prison Wednesday after a jury found him guilty of leading a cocaine trafficking operation that transported more than 325 kilograms of the drug to Southern Illinois. Robert, also known as Dewayne...
ALTON - Alton authorities are investigating the defacement of the "Welcome to Alton" sign on the city’s northern entrance, where graffiti containing a derogatory message targeting a resident was painted sometime between Friday night and early Saturday morning, July 19, 2025. Cory Davenport i...
JERSEY COUNTY - A man who fled from police during an investigation at Pere Marquette State Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025, has been captured and is now in custody at the Jersey County Jail, authorities said. The incident began around 8 a.m. Sunday, July 20, 2025, when a Jersey County sheriff’s...
Did you know Riverbender.com is free for you thanks to our awesome advertisers? We noticed you're using an ad block software. Please give our sponsors some exposure by disabling your ad blocking service for Riverbender.com.
