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.
GODFREY - Area resident Meghan Cunningham recently competed in the Ms. Health and Fitness nationwide competition. She excelled in the competition and said she may also enter again next year. Cunningham is a graphic artist and a Webster University at St. Louis graduate. She also attended Southern...
EDWARDSVILLE - Drunken Fish and Kimchi Guys are two new restaurants in the Edwardsville configuration that are attracting enormous attention. Drunken Fish is a sushi restaurant and bar that is expanding beyond the St. Louis market to Edwardsville. Drunken Fish will be opening Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023,...
EAST ALTON - The Illinois State Police Reconstruction Unit was called by East Alton Police Department early this morning to investigate a fatal pedestrian incident in East Alton. East Alton Police Chief Scott Golike said the incident that involved one vehicle and a pedestrian on Stanley Road is under...
WOOD RIVER - Bryce Hyde of East Alton-Wood River High, appears to have a great future ahead at Daytona Elite Academy. In the spring 2023, the Oilers' offensive and defensive lineman, signed with the academy to play football after EAWR graduation. Oilers' head football coach Gary Herron congratulated...
EAST ST. LOUIS – In a U.S. District courtroom Thursday, a federal judge sentenced a 27-year-old Belleville man - Brandon Lepper - to 262 months imprisonment after he admitted to producing and distributing sexually explicit images of minors. Lepper aded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation...
ALTON - The wait is over for Movie Nights at James Killion Park, with the weekly series returning at 8 p.m. Saturday with "Sonic The Hedgehog 2." Week two on Aug. 12 will be "Space Jame - A New Legacy." Aug. 19 is "Puss In Boots" and Aug. 26 is "Black Panther - Wakanda Forever." The James Killion...
MADISON COUNTY - July has been a rough and tough month for Ameren Illinois workers and customers because of the storm-and wind-related power outages. The latest storm on Saturday which had 60-mph winds in some areas knocked out power to more than 13,000 customers in Madison County. As of 8 p.m., Sunday,...
HIGHLAND - The new Miss Madison County and Junior Miss Pageant winners were crowned this weekend in Highland. The Miss Madison County is Laini Bock and the Junior Miss is Landry Shine. "In true fair queen fashion, they were crowned this afternoon," Pageant officials said in a statement. "A little...
SPRINGFIELD – Several area locations have had a small increase in unemployment figures over the year from June 2022 to June 2023. Edwardsville has the lowest unemployment rate of 3.7 percent in regard to area cities, compared to 3.3 percent a year ago. Alton's unemployment rate stands at 6....
JERSEY - Bria Tuttle finished a tremendous athletic career recently at Jersey Community High School as a softball player. She had a batting average of nearly .400, 36 hits, according to Max Preps. She also had 15 RBI and scored 35 runs this past spring. Bria had a remarkable 24 stolen bases last yea...
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