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.
JERSEY - The Jersey County Sheriff's Office is investigating a hit-and-run crash Wednesday afternoon. In the accident, there was property damage to several mailboxes, yards, and a fence along South Centennial Road in Jersey. Jersey County Sheriff Nick Manns said this is "a suspected DUI case." "The...
EDWARDSVILLE - After a guilty plea arrangement, Jacob M. Sitze, 31, of Bethalto, was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to Aggravated DUI with a blood alcohol level of .98 or more resulting in a death, a Class 2 felony. The Sitze crash resulted in the death of a Godfrey woman,...
ALTON - Alton Mayor David Goins is “elated” to hear that the Golden Corral will reopen in about a month. Employees were visible at the location this week, along with service personnel. This Golden Corral closed in July 2022 and has not reopened since that time. “I always felt in...
WOOD RIVER - Wood River City Council member Jeremy Plank has proposed a voter referendum on the possible Wood River Cannabis Dispensary in the downtown area. “When elected to Wood River City Council two short years ago, I promised to bring transparency to the process and to work to build our...
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police released information and a photo about a missing juvenile on Wednesday. The missing juvenile is Cloe Schmidt, a white female, 5-foot-6, 140 pounds, with blue eyes, long straight blonde hair, and 15 years of age. She was last seen wearing a beige colored T-shir...
JERSEY COUNTY - Jersey County Sheriff Nick Manns said a female was airlifted to a hospital from a head-on crash on Illinois Route 109 in front of the Do Drop Inn on Tuesday afternoon. Manns said the exact condition of the person was not yet known, but the injuries appeared serious. Three vehicles...
WOOD RIVER - Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said Tuesday night the Wood River Police Department and Illinois Secretary of State Police are investigating an incident with a vehicle that occurred on Carringer Place today. Wood River Police investigated a situation over the weekend that was a domestic...
JERSEY COUNTY - The Jersey County Sheriff's Office has warned motorists to avoid the area of Illinois Highway Route 109 just north of Illinois Route 3. The sheriff's office said to avoid the area until further notice. More to come. ...
GRAFTON - The Edward Amburg History Museum in Grafton has added a crown jewel with a new display of an old-time buggy once owned by Dr. Frank Baecht. The buggy owned by Dr. Frank Baecht arrived at the Edward Amburg History Museum in Grafton this past Thursday. Dr. Baecht was educated in Chicago public...
COLUMBIA, Ill. – A devastating overnight fire destroyed the home at Charlotte Avenue in the Stonegate Estates subdivision of a well-known local car dealer George "Skip" Weber IV, and his wife, Lori. Columbia Fire Protection District Chief Mike Roediger said Tuesday morning the fire began aroun...
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.
