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.
BETHALTO - Tyler I. Duncan, 20, of the 100 block of Main Street, Bethalto, has been charged with five counts of child pornography resulting from an investigation by the Bethalto Police Department. Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said the charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Bethalto...
EAST ALTON - One individual died in a blazing fire at a storage unit in East Alton early Tuesday. Fire departments responded to the situation in the 600 block of West St. Louis Avenue in East Alton around 1 a.m. Tuesday. Multiple storage units were on fire when the firefighters arrived at the scene....
ALTON - Melanie Parker, an Alton High School senior, has been selected as a finalist in the Saint Louis Young Artist Competition and will perform on March 18 at the Flute Day Festival. All flutists in this division will perform the first movement of Burton's Sonatina and two movements from Hindemith's...
ALTON - Alton Schools Superintendent Dr. Kristie Baumgartner today issued a statement about some precautionary measures taken for about 10 minutes at Alton Middle School on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. "Shortly before 11 Friday morning, we were notified of a disturbance in the community by the Alton Police...
GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney Catholic's boys' basketball team clinched its first-ever winning season with a 66-44 win over East St. Louis SIUE Charter in the quarterfinals of the IHSA Class 1A Dupo regional in a game played Saturday afternoon at the McGivney gym. The Griffins also won their second-ever...
EDWARDSVILLE - A total of 19 Edwardsville High School students earned All-State honors recently. Here is the list of EHS All-State Music students: Selin Aktuna, cello Jane Fitzgerald, violin Ashley Kim, violin Magdalyn Thomas, double bass Karis Chen, violin Alessia Heiser, bassoon Derek...
ALTON - The Alton High School Music Department has always ranked among the best in the State of Illinois. Recently, the Alton Music Department proudly represented the school at the 2023 Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) All-State Festival. These students represent the top 2 percent of band...
JERSEYVILLE - Vicki Watkins has left a legacy for drill team and dance in Jersey County, and recently, she was inducted into the Illinois Drill Team Association Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Springfield. Watkins' induction was done at the February 11, 2023, IDTA State Finals at the Bank...
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School Athletic Director Alex Fox is busy getting the job of a new head varsity football coach position on the market after Matt Martin resigned from the position for the 2023 season this past week. Alex and Matt have been familiar with each other for many years, a...
WORDEN - The Mardi Gras celebration, 'Wordi Gras,' in Worden was once again a huge hit, and Rick Landrem, of the Yellow Dog Bar and Cafe, said with the perfect weather on Saturday the event was simply “spectacular” this year. Landrem said the beauty of the event is everyone has fun fro...
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