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.
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Fairview Heights police arrested a St. Louis man in the parking lot of a Lowe’s store after officers said they found him connected to a stolen U-Haul vehicle, authorities reported. Fairview Heights Police said the department was dispatched March 15, 2026, to...
ALTON - Alton High’s girls track and field team won the overall title Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Jacksonville Indoor Invitational at Illinois College, highlighted by six-event victories and multiple school records. Alton finished the meet with 99.5 points. Mascoutah was next with 87.5...
JERSEY - The Jersey Community High School boys track and field team traveled to Illinois College this past weekend, and Michael Vogel, Matthew Bishop, Bradley Tueth, and Cameron Judkins placed first in the 4x400 with a new meet record. Cameron Judkins also finished third in the 60 meters and fifth...
JERSEYVILLE — Jersey Community High School opened its softball season with an 11-0 home win over Collinsville, a result that also marked Head Coach Chelsey Crnokrak’s 100th career victory as a varsity head coach. Jersey scored three runs in the first inning, six in the second,...
JERSEYVILLE — Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 has recognized high school student Cloud Sutton, the district’s Illinois State Board of Education student advisory member, for representing the district at the Student Advisory Council’s Student Summit 2026 in Springfield....
JERSEY - Jersey Community Middle School wrestling returned from Northern Illinois University after placing seventh as a team at the IESA State Tournament and setting a school record with six All-State medalists, according to Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100. The Jersey Community Middle...
ALTON - The Alton Police Department has awarded Telecommunicator Gina Fisher a Life Saving Award after officials said she guided a parent through CPR instructions during a 9-1-1 call that helped revive a 3-year-old child on Dec. 13, 2025, in Alton. According to the Alton Police Department, a distraught...
GREENE COUNTY - The National Teachers Hall of Fame in Emporia, Kan., has announced that a national memorial honoring educators who died in the line of duty has reached full capacity, leaving 12 newly identified names, including a Greene County, Illinois, teacher, Annie Louise Keller, awaiting inscription...
CHESTERFIELD, MO. - An adult male pilot was killed early Tuesday, March 17, 2026, after a plane crashed at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Mo., and local police said federal aviation investigators will conduct the follow-up investigation. The pilot of the plane was pronounced dead...
MARYVILLE, IL. - An Arkansas man was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison after admitting he robbed a motel in Maryville, Illinois, at gunpoint in May 2023, authorities said in a case investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Maryville Police Department....
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.
