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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.
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August 21, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Confederate Memorial at Manatee County Courthouse H1 082317 JH

Confederate memorial prompts protests, debate

BRADENTON – The Confederate memorial downtown stands covered in plywood today in anticipation of a scheduled Unity March and counter protests. Manatee County Commissioners voted against removing t…
August 19, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Bill Shearon

Charter amendment e-mails revealed

In their efforts to form the Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach (CNOBB) group, several e-mails were exchanged that expressed an intent to empower Mayor Bill Shearon and others by getting three pr…
August 16, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Carlos Beruff

Support wanes for Aqua by the Bay

BRADENTON – Manatee County Planning Commissioners and county staff reversed their previous positions and now recommend denial of Carlos Beruff’s Aqua by the Bay development. On Thursday, Aug. 10…
August 9, 2017
By Joe Hendricks

Sunshine lawsuit filed

BRADENTON BEACH – Six current and former city board and committee members are named as defendants in a Sunshine Law suit filed Friday. “This is an action of the Government-in-the-Sunshine Law agai…
August 9, 2017
By Joe Hendricks

Petition drives start in Bradenton Beach

The Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach (CNOBB) group is conducting a petition drive in hopes of getting three charter amendment questions placed on the November ballot. CNOBB members want city…
August 1, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Shark dragging

Shark dragging incident has Island ties

The first week of an ongoing Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigation into an online video of a shark being dragged behind a speeding boat produced public outcry, but lit…
July 18, 2017
By Joe Hendricks

City proposes state vacation rental law

ANNA MARIA – The city is going on the offensive in fighting for the protection of Florida cities’ home rule rights when it comes to regulating short-term vacation rentals. City Attorney Becky Vose…
July 5, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria City Pier

Second pier firm dismissed

ANNA MARIA – During an emergency meeting called by Mayor Dan Murphy, the City Commission decided Monday morning not to enter into negotiations with Taylor Engineering to design and permit the rehabil…
June 28, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Bridge Tender Dockside Bar

Bridge Tender requests met with resistance

Bridge Tender Inn owner Fred Bartizal is trying to bring his Dockside Bar into full compliance, but some Planning and Zoning Board members may have exceeded their limited authority when reviewing his…
June 27, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Ed Chiles

Chiles has high hopes for expanding business

The Chiles Restaurant Group, which owns and operates the BeachHouse restaurant in Bradenton Beach, the Sandbar in Anna Maria and Mar Vista in Longboat Key, is venturing into medical marijuana. “My p…
May 24, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Manatee County logo

Charter county concerns city officials

BRADENTON BEACH – Vice Mayor John Chappie is concerned about the push to make Manatee County a charter county, and he wants City Attorney Ricinda Perry to monitor these efforts. During the May 18…
May 24, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Barbara Rodocker

Obituary: Barbara Rodocker

BRADENTON BEACH – On May 10, the city of Bradenton Beach lost a business pioneer who helped transform Bridge Street, while never straying from her Christian and family values. Barbara Rodocker was…
May 3, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
Rep. Jim Boyd

Florida House passes rental bill

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida House has adopted HB 425 by a 63-56 vote. The vacation rental bill championed by Mike La Rosa (R-St. Cloud) seeks to end the local regulation of vacation rentals by manda…
April 27, 2017
By Joe Hendricks

Rental-inspired LDC amendments proposed

BRADENTON BEACH – The Bradenton Beach Planning and Zoning Board has completed the second phase of its efforts to regulate vacation rentals. After previously crafting recommended vacation rental re…
March 23, 2017
By Joe Hendricks
vacation rental

Committee rules favorably on vacation rental bill

TALLAHASSEE – The vacation rental bill filed by Florida Sen. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) cleared its first obstacle Tuesday afternoon when the Florida Senate’s Regulated Industries Committee ruled favor…