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 — During the late hours of August 3, 2024, to the early hours of August 4, 2024, the lives of many were irrevocably altered after a tragic motorcycle crash near Pontoon Beach. Meghan Lance, along with Nicko Lance, is spearheading a fundraiser to support the immediate expenses following...
PONTOON BEACH — The Pontoon Beach community was struck by tragedy on August 3, 2024, as two separate fatal accidents on Highway 111 resulted in the deaths of three individuals. The first accident occurred at approximately 8:49 p.m. Barry McGrew, 69, of Granite City, Illinois, was pushing a bicycl...
ALTON – Country music enthusiasts are in for a memorable evening on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, when star Scotty McCreery takes the stage at the Alton Amphitheater at 8 p.m. McCreery expressed his excitement about the upcoming performance in a statement released on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. "There...
COLUMBIA – A bear sighting in rural Columbia, Illinois, has captured the attention of Metro East residents and authorities alike. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department shared footage of the sighting Columbia on its Facebook page on Sunday, advising the community on how to handle potential...
ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE — The Metro East region is set to experience a heatwave with temperatures soaring to 95 degrees on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, and escalating to 100 degrees on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, according to the National Weather Service. However, relief is on the horizon as milder temperatures...
EDWARDSVILLE - Unseeded Gavin Young, from the University of Michigan and Apple Valley, Minn., rode three service breaks, including the opening game of the match, to take a 6-4, 6-3 win over Kyle Kang, of Pleasanton, Calif., and Stanford University, to win the singles championship of the $25,000 Edwardsvill...
OKLAHOMA CITY – Fairview Heights Police Officer Stitt and Officer Zywicki have completed two weeks of School Resource Officer training in Oklahoma City. The training, which gathered officers from across the country, concluded with Officer Stitt being honored with the "Top Team Member" award....
EDWARDSVILLE — McKenna Vereeke earned the title of first runner-up in the Miss Illinois 2024 pageant held in Marion, Illinois. This marks the second time Vereeke has achieved first runner-up in this competition. "I felt so incredibly honored competing against so many talented and intelligent...
BELLEVILLE — The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of K9 Havik, who died unexpectedly on Friday, July 26, 2024. Havik, a 9 1/2-year-old Black German Shepherd, had been a dedicated member of the department since he was 14 months old, serving alongside Sheriff Lee Hilty....
MADISON COUNTY – The Madison County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic safety campaign throughout July, aiming to remind motorists to slow down to save lives. The initiative, which involved collaboration with other state and local law enforcement agencies across Illinois, sought to reduce highwa...
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