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.
CARROLLTON - It is apparent that Calhoun-Brussels fans love their Warriors as much as Carrollton fans love their Hawks. Calhoun had a large fan turnout on Saturday night for the Lady Hawk Invite Championship game. The Warriors fans are loyal through thick and thin, good seasons and bad seasons,...
CARROLLTON - There is something special about small towns and sports, especially in Greene and Calhoun counties. On Saturday night, there was an epic matchup between the Carrollton High Hawks girls' basketball team and the Calhoun Warriors. The game was everything it was proclaimed to be with Clai...
CARROLLTON - The Carrollton Lady Hawks Invite was loaded with high school girls talent this time around and some of those girls were honored with All-Tourney selections after the championship game on Saturday night between Carrollton and Calhoun. Calhoun won the championship contest over Carrollton...
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School’s girls cheer squad has had a storybook season, and in Saturday's large schools IHSA Sectional at Knoxville, the girls placed second to advance to the state finals. Edwardsville was second to Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) at the sectional. Frankfort ha...
BLOOMINGTON - Marquette Catholic’s dance team made history this past weekend and the week before by placing 19th in the IHSA State Class 1A Dance Championships on Jan. 27, 2024. The Explorers’ girls squad was third at the IHSA Sectionals on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at Mascoutah High School....
ALTON - An Alton “Vintage Voices” cast recorded what Julie Gvillo described as “a profound performance” on Friday night at an Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE) Convention at the Union Station Ballroom. The cast did a portrayal of the Elijah P. Lovejoy...
U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinksi (IL-13) recently visited Riverbender.com and appeared on Our Daily Show! with CJ Nasello and an interview with the content director. This is one of a multi-part series about the interview. ALTON - Throughout her time in Congress, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinksi has proudly...
CARROLLTON - Sami Oller led Father McGivney Catholic's girls basketball team with 14 points, while Emily Johnson added 12, as the Griffins bounced back from a semifinal loss to the hosts and won the third-place game of the 49th Carrollton Lady Hawk Invitational Tournament 48-39 over Staunton...
CARROLLTON - Clare Hagen hit a fallaway three at the buzzer off an intentionally missed free throw from Audrey Gilman to give Hardin Calhoun-Brussels a dramatic 46-45 win over the host Hawks in the final of the 49th Carrollton Lady Hawk Invitational on Saturday night at a jam-packed Carrollton...
EDWARDSVILLE - A.J. Tillman scored 20 points to lead Edwardsville, but clutch fourth quarter free throw shooting helped give O'Fallon a hard-fought 60-55 win over the Tigers in an exciting Southwestern Conference boys basketball game Friday night at Lucco-Jackson Gym. The game served as the annual...
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