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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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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…
June 24, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
WMFR prevails in vacation rental lawsuit

WMFR prevails in vacation rental lawsuit

HOLMES BEACH – The West Manatee Fire Rescue District (WMFR) has prevailed in a lawsuit disputing its ability to assess commercial fees on vacation rentals. Filed last year by Holmes Beach-based C&am…
June 23, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
City, county officials discuss pier replacement, ferry landing

City, county officials discuss pier replacement, ferry landing

ANNA MARIA – City officials’ desire to rebuild the hurricane-damaged City Pier walkway and Manatee County officials’ desire to install a ferry landing at the pier are financially and philosophically…
June 23, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Youth group assists White Egret owners

Youth group assists White Egret owners

ANNA MARIA – While visiting Anna Maria Island, the One10Y­outh group from the Mandarin United Methodist Church in Jacksonville spent several hours helping the owners of the White Egret home décor and…
June 17, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria adopting ordinance prohibiting beach holes

Anna Maria adopting ordinance prohibiting beach holes

ANNA MARIA – The city will soon have a “No Holes on Beach” ordinance in effect that prohibits using metal shovels and other gardening tools to dig holes in the beach sand. On June 12, Anna Maria com…
June 17, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Mayor seeks TDC support for pier replacement project

Mayor seeks TDC support for pier replacement project

ANNA MARIA – The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recommends that the county commission provide the city of Anna Maria with up to $2 million in tourist development tax revenues to hel…
June 17, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Speed table debate continues

Speed table debate continues

HOLMES BEACH – The pending installation of three speed tables along the 500 block of Key Royale Drive remains a topic of debate even though an executed work agreement is already in place. On April 2…
June 17, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
City Pier Grill operators hope to renegotiate lease

City Pier Grill operators hope to renegotiate lease

ANNA MARIA – The City Pier Grill & Bait Shop operators want to renegotiate their lease before com­mitting to another five years in the city-owned City Pier building that’s currently closed due to…
June 16, 2025
By Joe Hendricks

April 2025 tourist tax collections

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. Amounts shown were…
June 9, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
City hosts hurricane preparedness workshop

City hosts hurricane preparedness workshop

HOLMES BEACH – During the city’s town hall-style Hurricane Preparedness Workshop, members of the city’s emergency operations team spent nearly two hours sharing information about hurricane prepara­ti…
June 9, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Clean Water Committee evolving

Clean Water Committee evolving

HOLMES BEACH – With two new members and a relatively new chairperson, the Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee remains committed to their primary objective: “To research means by which to sustain and improve…
June 9, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
McDaniel returning as Rotary Club president

McDaniel returning as Rotary Club president

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Jim McDaniel will serve as the next president of the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island. Succeeding current president Laurie Beppler and serving a one-year term that begins on July…
June 9, 2025
By Joe Hendricks

Commissioners discuss ‘green building’ incentives

HOLMES BEACH – Planning commissioners and Development Services Director Chad Minor recently discussed what, if anything, might be done to encourage “green building” in Holmes Beach. According to the…
June 4, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Treehouse fines will not be reduced

Treehouse fines will not be reduced

HOLMES BEACH – City commis­sioners rejected Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen’s request to reduce the $183,350 code enforcement lien the city placed on their Angelinos Sea Lodge property for unpaid fines r…