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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.
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May 15, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Bradenton Beach boats tagged

Abandoned boats tagged for removal

BRADENTON BEACH – Police have tagged four abandoned boats as part of the increased enforcement efforts taking place in the unmanaged anchorage near the historic Bridge Street Pier. On Tuesday, May…
May 15, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Confederate monument debated

Confederate monument debate resumes

BRADENTON – By 4-3 vote, Manatee County Commissioners have rejected Vanessa Baugh’s motion to ask county voters if they want a Confederate monument returned to the Historic Courthouse in downtown Bra…
May 11, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Sunshine defendants

Judge denies witness sequestration in Sunshine suit

BRADENTON – 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Lon Arend has rejected defendant John Metz’s request to sequester non-party witnesses in a Sunshine Law lawsuit. “I don’t find that I have the authori…
May 8, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Bradenton Beach Cortez Bridge

City officials blast bridge decision

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners oppose the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) recent decision to replace the Cortez Bridge drawbridge with a 65-foot-tall, fixed-span structure. May…
May 8, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
mean high water line Anna Maria

Mean high-water line surveyed

ANNA MARIA – The lines in the sand have been drawn – aka surveyed and staked – in two beachfront locations along South Bay Boulevard. On Wednesday, May 2, surveyors placed three wooden stakes alon…
May 8, 2018
By Joe Hendricks

Longboat Key resident killed crossing Gulf of Mexico Drive

LONGBOAT KEY – Longboat Key resident Warren Roberts, 85, was killed the morning of Tuesday, May 8 after being struck by two northbound vehicles as he attempted to cross Gulf of Mexico Drive, near the…
May 8, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Deborah Wing

Wing child abuse charge dropped

HOLMES BEACH – The child abuse charge levied against former Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce President Deb Wing has been dropped. The charge stemmed from an April 4 arrest by the Holmes Beach…
May 2, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Shark Dragging Court

Charges dropped against one shark dragging defendant

TAMPA – Prosecutors have dropped felony animal cruelty charges against one of three men accused of dragging a live shark behind a speeding boat. Spencer Heintz, 23, of Palmetto, is no longer facin…
May 1, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria customary use property

Commission jettisons customary use ordinance

ANNA MARIA – City officials have abandoned the pursuit of a customary use ordinance as a means of ensuring continued public access to state-owned public beach lands that lie between private property…
May 1, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria pool hero

Older brother prevents pool tragedy

ANNA MARIA – Seven-and-a-half-year-old New Hampshire resident Nick Costa was recognized last week for an act that helped save the life of his four-year-old brother, Jake. During the Anna Maria Cit…
April 25, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Las Vegas Doo Shots

Ted Stevens and the Doo-Shots play Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS – Ted Stevens and the Doo-Shots checked Viva Las Vegas off our band to-do list. On Saturday, April 21, we played a well-received 45-minute set at the Bailiwick Pub inside The Orleans Hot…
April 24, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Bradenton Beach Parking Garage

Commissioners discuss parking garages, more

BRADENTON BEACH – City Commissioners want to prohibit parking garages citywide, but they don’t feel amending the city charter is the way to do it. In other charter-related business, the commission…
April 20, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria Beach Use Dispute

Beach dispute predates new law

ANNA MARIA – When discussing a new state law taking effect July 1 regarding beach access and private property rights, Anna Maria commissioners heard about an existing dispute. On April 12, the may…
April 17, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Doo-Shots

Doo-Shots head to Vegas

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Ted Stevens and the Doo-Shots’ next gig will be in Las Vegas at the 21st annual Viva Las Vegas rockabilly weekend. On Saturday, April 21, the well-known local band will play a…
April 10, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Rotary golf

Team Swordfish wins Golf Classic

BRADENTON – The foursome sponsored by the Swordfish Grill won the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island’s fourth annual Golf Classic. Collectively, David Woods, Lewis Woods, Marty Lee and Chris Osborne…