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.
ALTON - The Holiday Inn Express construction is moving along in rapid fashion from a view of the Riverbender.com Skycam on Wednesday morning. The walls are going up and it appears the roof will be added soon to the new facility. The new Holiday Inn Express is located on Golf Road near the Alton Amtra...
ALTON - One of the most talked about business entries into Alton - Starbucks - appears on its way at 1725 Homer Adams Parkway. Serious groundwork with multiple trucks has been going on this week at the location. The video and photos included here were taken Tuesday by the Riverbender.com Skycam....
BETHALTO - Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon put out a request today on social media to help solve the case of someone who stole several bronze headstone vases at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. "Today we took a report of an absolutely despicable crime that we’d love to solve, and ar...
BETHALTO - The Bethalto Police reported today the past week has been busy with multiple calls for service and arrests throughout the village. Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said this criminal information accounts for just four of the felony-related investigations and arrests Bethalto Officers have...
JERSEY COUNTY - Two Rivers Crime Stoppers posted information today in conjunction with the Jersey County Sheriff's Office and sought the whereabouts of a man wanted for a charge of delivery/possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. Jeremiah Bowman, 5-foot-7, 150 pounds, birth 02-24-89,...
WOOD RIVER - Kacey M. Hill is the 2022 Wood River Telecommunicator of the Year. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said telecommunications have a stressful job and must stay calm in frantic situations, listen to violent events, and cope with their own strikes of adrenaline. “Telecommunicators...
WOOD RIVER - Detective Christopher S. Alfaro was recognized as the Wood River Police Department Officer of the Year for 2022 at the City Council Meeting on Monday night. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said Detective Alfaro was an obvious choice for the honor because of his attention to detail,...
WOOD RIVER - Wood River Fire Department Engineer/Paramedic Kris Ayers was recognized by the mayor and city council for being awarded the 2022 Firefighter of the Year on Monday night. Ayers was also deployed in the Army Reserve for just under a year and has come back and immediately in the fold to...
ALTON - The St. Mary’s Catholic School eighth-grade boys basketball team walks away from the 2022-2023 season with great memories and a regional championship as its most coveted accomplishment. St. Mary’s topped St. Boniface 39-38 to move to the state tourney play Saturday at Rend Lake....
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