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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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July 23, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Holmes Beach man accused of attempted murder

Holmes Beach man accused of attempted murder

HOLMES BEACH – Holmes Beach resident Douglas Scott Naeher, 60, was arrested on felony charges of attempted murder and battery (domestic related) as a result of a July 20 incident involving him and hi…
July 21, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria questions property tax relief without proof of permits

Anna Maria questions property tax relief without proof of permits

ANNA MARIA – Fifty-one Anna Maria property owners recently received letters from the city regard­ing their efforts to receive hurricane-related property tax relief without applying for building permi…
July 15, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Commission considering changes to trash collection schedule

Commission considering changes to trash collection schedule

ANNA MARIA – City commissioners want to see improvements to Waste Management’s current side-door trash and recycling collection services while still considering the company’s request to switch Anna M…
July 15, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Holmes Beach considering millage increase

Holmes Beach considering millage increase

HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth and city staff presented a proposed $23.7 million 2025-26 fiscal year city budget that’s currently based on increasing the current millage rate from 1.99 mills to…
July 11, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Bradenton Anna Maria Island Longboat Key

Tourist development tax revenues: May 2025

Manatee County’s 6% tourist development tax (resort tax) is collected from hotel, motel, resort, condo and other short-term vacation accommodations rented for six months or less. The amounts shown w…
July 8, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
AMI remembers Dale Woodland

AMI remembers Dale Woodland

ANNA MARIA – Former city commissioner and longtime Anna Maria resident Dale Woodland passed away on June 28 at the age of 76 due to complications caused by dementia. The family plans to host a memor…
July 7, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
DeSantis approves state funds for City Pier replacement

DeSantis approves state funds for City Pier replacement

ANNA MARIA – The city will receive a $1.25 million state appropriation that will assist in the replacement of the Anna Maria City Pier walkway that sustained significant damage during Hurricane Milto…
July 7, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Mayor concerned about beach cabana rentals

Mayor concerned about beach cabana rentals

HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth is concerned about beach cabana rental signage and cabanas being placed in prime beach locations before they’re rented. Titsworth shared these concerns during the…
July 7, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
WMFR vacation rental lawsuit victory stands

WMFR vacation rental lawsuit victory stands

BRADENTON – C&D Properties of AMI has not appealed a judge’s ruling in favor of the West Manatee Fire and Rescue District’s (WMFR) right to levy annual assessments on short-term vacation rental p…
July 2, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Pickup truck collides with low-speed vehicle

Pickup truck collides with low-speed vehicle

HOLMES BEACH – A pickup truck collided with a low-speed vehicle (LSV) on Gulf Drive on Tuesday evening, resulting in two of the seven LSV passengers being transported to a walk-in emergency room for…
July 2, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Commission discusses pier lease, parking fines, Waste Management

Commission discusses pier lease, parking fines, Waste Management

ANNA MARIA – City Pier tenant requests, increased parking fines and ongoing service issues with Waste Management were among the topics discussed during the June 26 Anna Maria City Commission meeting…
July 1, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Treehouse lien reduction denied again

Treehouse lien reduction denied again

HOLMES BEACH – By a 3-2 vote, city commissioners have denied a second request to reduce the treehouse-related $188,621 code en­forcement lien the city placed on the Angelinos Sea Lodge. Owned and op…
July 1, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Significant stormwater fee increase proposed

Significant stormwater fee increase proposed

HOLMES BEACH – City property owners may soon see their annual stormwater assessment fee increase by as much as 205%, rising from $2.95 per 100 square feet of property to $4.95 or $9 per 100 square fe…
July 1, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Gloria Dei owners decline city’s initial offer

Gloria Dei owners decline city’s initial offer

HOLMES BEACH – The owners of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church property did not accept the city’s $3 million offer to purchase the church building and property at 6608 Marina Drive. On June 25, Taylor…
July 1, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Teenager ejected from golf cart, seriously injured

Teenager seriously injured in Anna Maria golf cart accident

ANNA MARIA – A 15-year-old golf cart passenger suffered traumatic head and chest injuries after being ejected from a golf cart at the intersection of North Shore Drive and Spring Avenue in Anna Maria…