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.
HARDIN - At 11:20 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office was notified by West-Central Illinois 911 dispatch of a disturbance in progress in the area of Dogtown Road in Batchtown. Calhoun County Sheriff's Deputy Nicholas McCall and Sheriff William Heffington responded...
COLLINSVILLE - Nick Horras led the way with 19 points, as three players scored in double figures as host Collinsville won their first-round game over Decatur Eisenhower 64-47 in the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic tournament Wednesday evening at Vergil Fletcher Gym. It wasn't pretty...
COLLINSVILLE - The Granite City boys basketball team showed flashes of brilliance during the opening game of the 39th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic, having four players score in double figures. But turnovers and mistakes plagued the Warriors as they lost to Decatur MacArthur 58-51 t...
ALTON - It took to almost to the end of December, but the Metro East Region observed its first snowflakes of the winter season on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. National Weather Service in St. Louis Meteorologist Matt Beitscher said this was not typical of normal November and December months in this region...
EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Coroner Stephen Nonn provided this update on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, about a Highland female who died from injuries suffered in a structure fire in her apartment this past weekend. Nonn said the woman - 68-year-old Virginia G. Barth - died at Saint Joseph’s...
PIASA - There is a rebirth of some sort going on this holiday season with the new Southwestern Boys Christmas Tournament. Southwestern opens play at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, against Dupo. At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the Piasa Birds play Maryville Christian. Southwestern Athletic Director...
ALTON - In the 1950s, Chris and Helen Doucleff began a holiday tradition that has since expanded and become almost a legendary part of the Alton fabric. This past weekend, Amy and Ben Hollis, the daughter and son-in-law of Mike Doucleff of Duke Bakery, had another holiday gathering where Santa, his...
ALTON - Alton Police Officer Ashley Clare has made a big difference in the Riverbend area with her abilities as a trained negotiator in crises. Recently, Ashley saved the life of an individual who was located sitting on the outside ledge of the Clark Bridge with her negotiation skills. The incident...
ALTON - Leon Smallwood and Tori Porter are believers in the importance of assisting youth and for this holiday season, the pair were heavily involved in a successful Christmas Shopping Spree for some Alton High students. Smallwood is the president of the Alton Branch of the NAACP. He said hi...
WOOD RIVER - Wood River Police Department rushed to a report of a domestic battery at 2:36 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, on Mildred Street in Wood River and discovered a female subject had left the scene to go to her parents' home. "The female reporting the domestic battery left the residence to...
Did you know Riverbender.com is free for you thanks to our awesome advertisers? We noticed you're using an ad block software. Please give our sponsors some exposure by disabling your ad blocking service for Riverbender.com.
