Skip to main content
Joe Hendricks

Joe Hendricks

February 11, 2017
Joe Hendricks the editor of the Anna Maria Island Sun. As a Sun reporter, Joe primarily covers the cities of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach, including those two city goverments. He also covers Island-related matters at the county and state levels.
Email Joe Hendricks
April 20, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Commission considering changes to public comment and meeting procedures 

City commissioners are considering reducing the time allotted for public comment given during public hearings from five minutes to three minutes.
April 20, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

ScootCoupe driver arrested after accident

A Minnesota resident was arrested in Anna Maria after she crashed the three-wheeled ScootCoupe she was driving.
April 18, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Sailboat strikes Longboat Pass Bridge

UPDATED 4/20/26 11 p.m. LONGBOAT KEY – A sailboat struck the Longboat Pass Bridge on Friday morning. The boating accident temporarily impacted vechicular traffic on the bridge that connects Longbo…
April 17, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Impaired driver who killed Sara Danielle Holmes sentenced to 25 years in prison

BRADENTON – Cesar Navarrete, the impaired driver who killed Swordfish Grill bartender Sara Danielle Holmes in a DUI-related crash in 2024, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. On Thursday, Ap…
April 15, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Residents push back on cabana rental regulations

City officials are receiving pushback from some city residents and property owners regarding city’s new beach cabana rental regulations.
April 15, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Female students are the real Lucky Ducky Race for Pace winners 

 BRADENTON – The 17th Annual Lucky Ducky Race for Pace was held on the Manatee River on Saturday, April 11, and it raised more than $210,000 for the Pace Center for Girls, Manatee organization.&…
April 15, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Manatee Belle joins the Gulf Islands Ferry fleet 

The Gulf Islands Ferry service’s new and larger $3 million Manatee Belle ferry boat is now in service between Bradenton and Bradenton Beach.
April 15, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Demolition permit issued for old Wells Fargo bank building

Businessman Jake Spooner now has the city-issued demolition permit needed to demolish the former Wells Fargo bank building in Holmes Beach.
April 10, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Rubber ducks still available for Lucky Ducky Race for Pace

There’s still time to adopt ducks to race in the 17th annual Lucky Ducky Race for Pace taking place along the Bradenton Riverwalk on Saturday, April 11.
April 9, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

AMI Chamber of Commerce presents annual scholarship awards

Three deserving Manatee County students received $1,000 scholarships from the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.
April 7, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Verdict reached, final judgment pending in beach access lawsuit

 HOLMES BEACH – On March 20, a jury ruled in favor of several plaintiffs involved in a civil lawsuit pertaining to the decades-long use of a beach access path located on an easement associated w…
April 7, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Easter Sunrise Service attracts massive and joyous crowd

 HOLMES BEACH – An estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people attended the Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island’s 61st annual Easter Sunrise Service, according to Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer. …
March 31, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Hunters Point canal settlement reached with one defendant 

One of the defendants, Jacquelyn Shepard, named in a 2022 lawsuit regarding the residential use of the man-made Hunters Point-owned canal reached a settlement agreement with Cortez Road Investments a…
March 31, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Anna Maria adopts revised commercial beach activity regulations 

The Anna Maria City Commission updated the city’s commercial beach activity regulations that address rented cabanas, tents and umbrellas.
March 31, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

AMI Moose Lodge hosts beachfront Easter egg hunt

Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge 2188 held its annual children’s Easter party on Saturday, March 28.