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.
GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney Catholic High School’s math team won the overall Class A Regional Championship on Feb. 28, 2026, at the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics Competition held at Southwestern Illinois College. The team victory marked the first time in school history...
CARLYLE - The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis has suspended its investigation into the death of 41-year-old Sadie L. Tull, who was found dead March 3, 2026, at her home in the 2100 block of Fairfax Street in Carlyle, Illinois, after four days of investigative work that left the manner of death...
GREENE COUNTY - Robert Schollmeier of rural Greene County used social media last month to draw attention to what he said were Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) trucks dumping deer carcasses from a bridge into Apple Creek. IDOT later confirmed it was aware of a complaint and said the carcasses...
ST. LOUIS - Six Flags Entertainment said on Thursday, March 5, 2026, it has agreed to sell seven amusement parks, including Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, to EPR Properties as part of what the company called an “ongoing strategy to optimize and strengthen our park portfolio.”...
HARDIN - Calhoun’s season ended Wednesday night in the IHSA Class 1A Nokomis Sectional with a two-point loss to Brown County. Brown County beat Calhoun 48-46 on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Nokomis. Calhoun closed the season with a 27-6 overall record. Brown County led 19-14 after the...
CARLYLE - A fundraiser has been launched to help pay funeral and memorial expenses for Sadie Tull, a 41-year-old Carlyle business owner who was found shot to death on March 4, 2026, inside her home on Fairfax Street, as the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis investigates the killing. Myrna Piehl...
ALTON — The Alton School District has appointed Rick Reinhart as head football coach after reviewing more than 20 applications, the district announced. The district said Reinhart, who served as an assistant coach last year, will lead the Alton High School Redbirds as the program begins a weight...
EAST ALTON/BETHALTO - A man wanted in a murder investigation was arrested Tuesday morning, March 3, 2026, in the parking lot of Eastgate Plaza in East Alton, and local officials said the case was separate from a federal operation last week in Bethalto in which four employees of a Mexican restaurant...
EDWARDSVILLE - A large MBI tractor-trailer caught fire on Interstate 255 and drove off the road to an exit ramp, briefly closing the ramp before firefighters extinguished the blaze, officials said on Thursday morning, March 5, 2026. The fire involved an MBI tractor-trailer that pulled over on a ramp...
EDWARDSVILLE - A late-night fire at a Captain D’s restaurant in Edwardsville rapidly drew multiple fire departments to the scene, and the fire was contained quickly by those efforts. However, the fire and smoke left the building too damaged to reopen immediately, according to the Edwardsville...
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