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.
EDWARDSVILLE – Will Brown, Jr. led three O’Fallon players in double figures with 17 points, as the Panthers’ hot three-point shooting in the first quarter helped set the tone as O’Fallon eliminated Edwardsville 63-54 in the second semifinal of the IHSA Class 4A boys basketball...
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The St. Louis County Police Department has announced that a preliminary investigation of a fatal fire in the 500 block of North Clay Avenue in Ferguson, Mo., has revealed this to be a murder/suicide. The deceased in the fire have been identified as Bernadine Pruessner, 39, an area...
JERSEY COUNTY - Jersey County Sheriff Nick Manns reported on Wednesday night, Feb. 21, 2024, that there was a three-wheeler crash just before 5 p.m. on Airport Road in Jersey County. Manns said a juvenile was flown out with a leg injury. "I believe the prognosis is good," Sheriff Manns said. N...
ALTON - There was a large visible police presence on East 13th Street in the Blair Area in Alton this morning and officers were able to apprehend two subjects and take them into custody. The Alton Police said an initial report to the department said it appeared up to possibly four subjects were in...
FERGUSON, MO. - Brittany Persch of Ferguson, Mo., has organized a GoFundMe for the family of Bernadine "Birdie" Pruessner and her beloved children, Millie, 2, Jackson, 6, and Ellie and Ivy, both 9. The family died in a tragic house fire in Ferguson on Feb. 19, 2024. "It is with deep...
ALTON - At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, the Alton Police Department was notified of a traffic accident with injuries on College Avenue at the intersection with Main Street. Alton Police Officers and members of the Alton Fire Department immediately responded to the scene where they located an...
NOKOMIS - Sami Oller led Father McGivney Catholic with 14 points, while Natalie Beck added 12 points and also made a pair of key defensive plays in the final minute to give the Griffins a 46-39 win over Winchester West Central in the first semifinal of the IHSA Class 1A Nokomis Sectional Tuesday nigh...
WEST ALTON, MO. - Last week, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources conducted a prescribed controlled burn within the Edward "Ted" and Pat Jones-Confluence Point State Park. Many pointed out the smoke in the air to Riverbender.com and wanted to know the cause. Quinn Kellner, a parks superintendent...
FERGUSON, MO. - St. Louis County investigators said late Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, that the fire that took the lives of Bernadine Pruessner and her four children earlier in the day appears "suspicious in nature." St. Louis County investigators said Monday there was evidence of "criminal activity" at...
GLEN CARBON - Thijson Heard led the way for Metro-East Lutheran with 16 points, while both Junior Brown and Lanydon Jefferson both added on 11 points each as the Knights won over Father McGivney Catholic 53-44 Monday night in the IHSA Class 1A boys basketball Madison regional second quarterfinal a...
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