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.
OVERLAND, MO. — A 28-year-old man was charged with resisting arrest following an officer-involved shooting on March 30, 2025, in the 10700 block of Page Avenue, according to St. Louis County authorities. Eddie Washington, of the 11800 block of Cato Drive in Florissant, Mo., was charged on March...
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois House Bill 1237, which proposed banning school mascots and imagery referencing Native American tribes, failed to advance in the Illinois Senate after missing a Friday, May 9, 2025, procedural deadline to move out of committee. State Senator Erica Harriss, who represents...
ALTON - Brayden Drew, a 150-pound junior wrestler, had another outstanding season. He earned his second sectional trip in the 2024-2025 season. He is an Auto Butler Male Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds. Drew secured his spot in the sectional tournament after winning the Edwardsville Regional....
ALTON/GODFREY - A fallen tree caused a power outage affecting 2,220 customers in the Alton-Godfrey area on Tuesday morning, May 13, 2025, Ameren Illinois spokesperson Brian Bretsch reported. The tree fell on the power lines near Fairmount Avenue and McKinley Boulevard in Alton. "The outage was the...
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - The Fairview Heights Police Department announced the addition of two new officers, Cody Randolph and Slater McVeigh, who will begin their training at the police academy later this month. Both Randolph and McVeigh have prior military service and are transitioning to roles in loca...
BREESE — 16-year-old Macy M. Haar, a junior at Breese Central Community High School, died in a crash involving a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) shortly before 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The incident occurred near Breese, just south of Central High School’s parking lot. Clinton Count...
ALTON - Ameren Illinois spokesperson Brian Bretsch confirmed on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, that 2,200 customers in the Alton-Godfrey vicinity were without power around 8:45 a.m. after a downed power line. Crews are in the process of re-routing impacted customers to offer electric sources, he said. "Crews...
GLEN CARBON - The Father McGivney Griffins track and field team set four school records and achieved multiple personal bests as they competed selectively against mainly 3A competition at the Collinsville Invite on Saturday, May 10, 2025. The Griffins' boys' team, coming off their Gateway Metro Conference...
ST. CLAIR COUNTY — A 29-year-old man from Shiloh died early Sunday morning, May 11, 2025, after his vehicle overturned and exploded into fire on an interstate exit ramp, authorities said. Jalal Hamed was pronounced dead at 7:06 a.m. on May 11, 2025, at the scene of the crash, the St. Clair Count...
ALTON — Alton Mayor David Goins visited La Bella of Alton on Monday, May 12, 2025, to read the proclamation marking the start of National Skilled Nursing Care Week, which runs through Friday, May 16, 2025. The annual event recognizes the dedication of skilled nursing care professionals. La...
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.
