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.
EAST ST. LOUIS - East St. Louis School District 189 celebrated academic excellence recently during its Top Achievers Awards Banquet held at Mason Clark Middle School. The event recognized students who met or exceeded expectations on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) and the Illinois Science...
EDWARDSVILLE - Coach Matt Bettlach has high expectations for his Triad girls' soccer squad in the spring of 2025. Although Triad, who finished second in the IHSA Class 2A state tournament last season, has lost to Edwardsville 4-0 on Thursday night, March 20, 2025, and to O'Fallon 2-0, Knights’...
EDWARDSVILLE – Gabby Thompson had a brace (two goals), while Anna Maxim and Addie Greenwood also scored, and Genny Burrough kept the clean sheet in goal as Edwardsville bounced back from their season-opening loss at Columbia to take a 4-0 win over Triad in the Tigers’ home opener Thursda...
MASCOUTAH - Lukas Fournie, a farmer from Mascoutah, is spearheading a fundraising campaign to recover from significant damage caused by a recent tornado last weekend. The storm destroyed his shed and severely damaged much of his farming equipment, prompting Fournie to seek financial assistance to...
CASEYVILLE — A swift response from local fire departments helped contain a brush fire that broke out in a field near Brook Haven Drive in Caseyville. Hollywood Heights Fire Chief Shawn Keilbach said the fire was reported to their jurisdiction after the Collinsville Fire Department received...
COLLINSVILLE — Uptown Scoops, an ice cream shop located at 403 West Main Street in Collinsville, announced on social media that it was the victim of vandalism over the weekend of March 15, 2025. The owner reported to the Collinsville Police that someone broke into the establishment and vandalized...
JERSEY - The Jersey Community Middle School wrestling team has concluded a historic season under the leadership of Head Coach Ron Linenfelser, Assistant Coach Tad Strauch, and Assistant Coach Tommy Leslie. The team, which recorded an 8-5 season, achieved significant milestones in various tournaments...
EAST ST. LOUIS - Cai'lyn Robinson, a seventh-grade student at Mason Clark Middle School, has made headlines by winning the 2025 Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation (IKWF) State Championship in the Boys Novice Weight Class 178. The championship was held at the Peoria Civic Center on March 7-8, 2025....
GLEN CARBON - Izzie Vernasky, a 5-foot-8 senior at Father McGivney Catholic High School, has earned recognition as a special mention member on the Illinois Coaches Basketball Association IHSA Class 1A team and as a first-team selection for the All Gateway Conference team. She is a Byron, Carlson,...
ALTON — The Alton High Middle School Wrestling program showcased the talents of two young athletes at the state tournament recently, highlighting their hard work and dedication throughout the season. Eighth-grader Jacob Sutphin and sixth-grader Blake Jones represented their school, competing...
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