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.
BELLEVILLE - Jarod Rhodes, a Center of Creative Arts (COCA) voice student and member of the Muny Kids in St. Louis, is remembered fondly on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, for being "a bright light" and his immense contributions in theater and music in his young life. Rhodes died after he was found with...
ALTON - Crisis Food Center will partner with Midwest Members Credit Union to distribute free hams and side items to families in need during a drive-through giveaway from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Crisis Food Center, 21 East 6th St. in Alton. The event, billed as the Seventh Annual...
MARYVILLE - Maryville Mayor Wayne White served as a judge at a chili cook-off at Cambridge House of Maryville held in celebration of National Chili Day. The event featured nine entries, according to information provided about the cook-off. Employees described the day as “a lot of fun”...
O'FALLON, IL. - Tracey Ritzel of O’Fallon Township High School District 203 has received the Illinois State Board of Education’s Award of Meritorious Service in the Student Support Personnel category and will be honored at the 52nd Annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the...
COLLINSVILLE - Deaundrae Higgs, a third-grade student at John A. Renfro Elementary School, used his 2026 Black History Museum display to honor Ray’Sean Taylor, a Collinsville High School Class of 2020 graduate and current SLB pro basketball player, Collinsville Community Unit School...
EAST ST. LOUIS - Students and staff at Dr. Katie Harper-Wright Elementary School in East St. Louis School District 189 marked Black History Month with a theme centered on a “time machine” journey through 100 years of Black excellence, highlighting influential African American...
PIASA - Southwestern boys basketball coach Jason Darr has spent the past 12 years coaching members of the Robinson family, and he said it will be very nice to have junior Cason Robinson returning for the 2026-2027 season. Darr, the head coach of the Piasa Birds, reflected on Robinson’s 2025-26...
EDWARDSVILLE — A Madison County jury has awarded $241 million to the family of a courier who died after transporting dry ice in Missouri, finding Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. and related entities liable nearly a decade after the 2016 incident, according to information released on Friday, Feb. 27...
WOOD RIVER - Five Lewis & Clark Junior High School student athletes were recognized by the LCJH District 15 school board on Feb. 24, 2026, in Wood River, Illinois, for earning spots on the Boys Basketball All Academic Team, an honor created this year by Coach Overton and Kraig Daniels. The board recognize...
EDWARDSVILLE - Tucker Lindstedt is one of the five seniors on this year's Edwardsville High School boys basketball team, and has been very supportive of his teammates as well as being a talented forward in the 2025-2026 season. The Tigers move to the sectional semifinals for a contest against...
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