Skip to main content
Joe Hendricks

Joe Hendricks

February 11, 2017
Joe Hendricks is 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 governments. He also covers Island-related matters at the county and state levels, breaking Island news, events and entertainment and more.
Email Joe Hendricks
July 10, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Bradenton Beach charter review

Modified commission wards proposed

BRADENTON BEACH – The Charter Review Committee (CRC) reached consensus on several items during its Monday, July 9 meeting. Members Debra Cox, Anne Leister, Dan Morhaus and Randy Milton support a p…
July 10, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Bradenton Beach KORN lawsuit

KORN files lawsuit against city

BRADENTON BEACH – Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) chairman Reed Mapes has filed a lawsuit challenging the City Commission’s decision to not place four KORN-initiated charter amendment quest…
July 10, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Fire Stone lawsuit

Street ownership dispute prompts lawsuit

BRADENTON – Street ownership and property rights are the subjects of a lawsuit the owners of Fire & Stone Brick Oven Pizzeria have filed against Manatee County. In May, attorney John Colton fi…
July 3, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Center of Anna Maria Island

Island cities ok Center funding

ANNA MARIA – City commissioners have agreed to make an $18,500 contribution to The Center of Anna Maria Island. To be taken from the city’s current fiscal year budget, the money will help support…
July 3, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Fourth of July hot dog contest

How many hot dogs can you eat?

CORTEZ – The Swordfish Grill will host its Fifth Annual Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4. Given 10 minutes to eat as many hot dogs as possible, the winner will…
June 29, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Grand Tree Speakers

Amended tree ordinance now in effect

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria Commissioners recently adopted an amended tree ordinance, then promptly applied it when approving two grand tree removal requests previously denied by Public Works Manager Dea…
June 29, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Bill Vincent Withdraws

Vincent ends commission candidacy

BRADENTON BEACH – Former Planning and Zoning Board member Bill Vincent says he’s withdrawing from the Bradenton Beach City Commission race. On Thursday, June 28, Vincent distributed an email that…
June 29, 2018
By Joe Hendricks

Journalism at its finest

Kudos to the staff of the Annapolis, Md.-based Capital Gazette for putting out a newspaper the morning after five of their friends and co-workers were murdered by a disgruntled reader who had previou…
June 26, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Bradenton Beach budget

Bradenton Beach gets good budget review

BRADENTON BEACH – City Commissioners praised City Clerk Terri Sanclemente and City Treasurer Shayne Thompson for the clean audit of the 2016-17 fiscal year budget. On June 13, auditors Randy Dilli…
June 26, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
KORN Petitions Rejected

Commission rejects KORN initiatives

BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton Beach Commissioners have rejected four charter amendment initiatives pursued by the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee. Barring a cour…
June 22, 2018
By Joe Hendricks

Bradenton Beach sewer line smoke tests start Monday

BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County will be smoke testing sewer lines in Bradenton Beach beginning on Monday, June 25 and ending on Wednesday, July 11. A yellow door hanger bearing the county logo ad…
June 21, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria Pier demo

Pier demolition clarified

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy doesn’t want people blaming the Ayres Associates design and engineering firm for the pending demolition and replacement of the Anna Maria City Pier. Murphy recently q…
June 19, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria Pier criticism

Commissioners respond to pier criticism

ANNA MARIA – Some Anna Maria Commissioners are becoming frustrated with the social media criticism levied at them regarding the pending demolition and replacement of the city pier. During the June…
June 19, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Cortez Mural

New mural a welcome sign in Cortez

CORTEZ – Rose Lipke’s “Welcome to Historic Cortez Village” mural now graces the east wall of the Village Center plaza near the corner of Cortez Road and 119th Street West. Cortez residents and pla…
June 19, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria July 4 park

Fourth of July festivities planned

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Anna Maria Island Privateers will host their annual Fourth of July parade on Wednesday, July 4. The parade will begin at Coquina Beach at 10 a.m. and travel north to the ci…