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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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June 3, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Proposed charter amendments presented as ordinances

Proposed charter amendments presented as ordinances

ANNA MARIA – City commissioners have been presented with separate ordinances containing ballot language and summary language for five proposed charter amendments. City Attorney Becky Vose presented…
June 3, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Van Ostenbridge switches races

Van Ostenbridge switches races

MANATEE COUNTY – Incumbent District 3 Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge announced he’s no longer seeking reelection in his current district. He will instead seek election to the Di…
May 28, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
CBD resolution finalized

CBD resolution finalized

ANNA MARIA – The city commission has adopted a resolution providing the sales and registration requirements allowing existing CBD and hemp sellers to continue those sales by acquiring city-approved g…
May 28, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Mayor Murphy won’t seek re-election

Mayor Murphy won’t seek re-election

ANNA MARIA – Dan Murphy will not seek re-election to another two-year term as the city’s mayor. During the May 23 city commission meeting, Murphy announced he would not run again in the upcoming c…
May 21, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Safety the focus of National Safe Boating Week

Safety the focus of National Safe Boating Week

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – From May 18-24, National Safe Boating Week is a reminder about the importance of being a safe boater. Anna Maria resident David Haddox is a past commander of the Anna Maria Isl…
May 21, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Fences, visibility triangles, parking discussed

Fences, visibility triangles, parking discussed

ANNA MARIA – The Planning and Zoning Board is reviewing city regula­tions pertaining to fences located in street corner intersection visibility triangles and driveway intersection visibility triangle…
May 20, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Boat ramp being renamed in Moore’s honor

Boat ramp being renamed in Moore’s honor

MANATEE COUNTY – The Coquina North Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach will be renamed the Captain Scott Moore Boat Ramp in honor of longtime Holmes Beach resident and well-known fishing guide and charter c…
May 20, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Fritz Dahlquist lived a wonderful life

Fritz Dahlquist lived a wonderful life

HOLMES BEACH – Longtime Holmes Beach resident and Nautilus condominium complex manager Fritz Dahlquist passed away after a brief and sudden illness on May 8. He was 70. He’s survived by his wife o…
May 13, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Latest Pine Avenue bid rejected

Latest Pine Avenue bid rejected

ANNA MARIA – Following Mayor Dan Murphy’s recom­mendation, the city commission rejected the latest Reimagining Pine Avenue bid received from C-Squared. On May 9, the commission voted 5-0 in favor…
May 13, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Candidate qualifying commences soon

Candidate qualifying commences soon

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The candi­date qualifying periods will soon begin for those seeking election or reelection during the 2024 election cycle. Anna Maria provides a two-week qualifying period. Bra…
May 13, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Farrington secures petition signatures

Farrington secures petition signatures

MANATEE COUNTY – Mana­tee County Supervisor of Elec­tions candidate Scott Farrington has secured enough petition signatures to avoid paying a $10,133 qualifying fee. The one-week qualifying period…
May 13, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Mayors discuss law enforcement consolidation

Mayors discuss law enforcement consolidation

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth are not on the same page when it comes to the potential consolidation of law enforcement services, with each mayor prefe…
May 6, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
New book highlights Drift In’s past, present, future

New book highlights Drift In’s past, present, future

BRADENTON BEACH – Casey Hoffman and Paul “Big Sexy” Weremecki have written a book about the Drift In bar. Published in March, the 144-page book is aptly titled, “Drift In, Stumble Out” and tells t…
May 6, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Ferry service to Longboat Key discussed

Ferry service to Longboat Key discussed

LONGBOAT KEY – Gulf Islands Ferry service may one day be expanded to the north end of Long­boat Key, but that isn’t expected to happen in the immediate future. Future ferry service was one of the…
May 6, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Hunters Point prevails in dock permitting appeal

Hunters Point prevails in dock permitting appeal

CORTEZ – Hunters Point developer Marshall Gobuty and his Cortez Road Investments and Finance Inc. (CRIF) ownership group have prevailed in a dock permit-related appeal filed last year by the Cortez V…