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.
WINCHESTER - Brooklyn Eilerman was overpowering for the Carrollton Hawks in a 20-0 no-hit triumph over West Central on Monday, April 6, 2026, at West Central. She also tallied four hits on the day and drove in three runs. Collins Newton, Courtney Waldheuser, and Hadley Lake and Kadyn Lake each added...
BRIGHTON - Alex Spangler, a senior at Southwestern High School, has been named an Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month. Alex plays baseball at Southwestern High School, wearing No. 12. He plays right field and sometimes pitches. He also played golf this past year and...
MONDAY, APRIL 6 PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS SCOREBOARD BASEBALL Carrollton 6, Winchester West Central 2 Civic Memorial 8, Collinsville 6 Columbia 11, Waterloo Gibault Catholic 5 Granite City 6, Highland 2 Nokomis 4, Carlinville 3 Father McGIvney Catholic 14, Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran...
GODFREY - Area firefighters from multiple departments responded around 10 p.m. Monday, April 6, 2026, to reports of two houses on fire in the 300 block of Meadowlark Drive in Godfrey, according to Godfrey Fire Protection District Chief Eric Cranmer. Once again, all the firefighters worked in unison...
GODFREY - Godfrey Fire Protection District Chief Eric Cranmer said a serious fire in the 300 block of Meadowlark Drive in Godfrey was destructive to one home and caused significant damage to an adjacent home after crews were dispatched to reports of explosions and flames visible from the street. T...
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police have identified the woman killed in a wrong-way, head-on crash on Lewis & Clark Boulevard as 23-year-old Katie Holman of Alton, authorities said Monday, April 6, 2026. Holman, of the 2900 block of Hillcrest Avenue in Alton, died at the scene...
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Fairview Heights Police Officer Molly Muennich, who was injured during a May 2025 incident and later underwent emergency surgery, has been named the 2026 Women in Criminal Justice Female Officer of the Year by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. The Fairview...
BETHALTO — Civic Memorial High School senior Kaylee Shields opened the outdoor track and field season with a third-place finish in the pole vault Friday, April 3, 2026, at Belleville West, continuing a strong indoors/outdoors year for the Eagles. Shields cleared 10 feet, 6 inches to place third...
BELLEVILLE — A tightly contested pole vault competition highlighted the Lady Maroons Invite, with three area athletes finishing among the top six as the girls' outdoor track and field season gets underway. Civic Memorial’s Kaylee Shields, Edwardsville’s Jaylin Bell, and Collinsville’s...
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville’s Sophie Shapiro and Joi Story set the tone early Friday, April 3, 2026, delivering wins in hurdles and throws that helped power the Tigers to a dominant team title at the Lady Maroons Invite at Belleville West High School. Edwardsville finished first with 131 points....
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