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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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April 29, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria discusses mangrove regulations

Anna Maria considers regulating mangroves

ANNA MARIA – Building Depart­ment General Manager Dean Jones is leading the city’s efforts to join Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key in adopting and self-enforcing local mangrove regulat…
April 29, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Proposed charter amendments debated

Proposed charter amendments debated

ANNA MARIA – City com­missioners are still considering six charter amendments recently proposed by the charter review committee. On April 25, the commission engaged in its second informal discussi…
April 29, 2024
By Joe Hendricks

CBD, hemp grandfathering status advances

ANNA MARIA – The city is one step closer to adopting a new ordinance that will grant grandfathering status for businesses that already sold CBD and/or hemp products as of April 1. On April 25, a p…
April 29, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Satcher files in supervisor of elections race

Satcher files in supervisor of elections race

MANATEE COUNTY – Interim Manatee County Supervisor of Elections James Satcher has filed his preliminary paperwork to run for election to that position on a long-term basis. On April 12, Gov. Ron D…
April 29, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Kapok tree relocated to Anna Maria

Kapok tree relocated to Anna Maria

ANNA MARIA – A large kapok tree now graces a residential construction site along the 700 block of North Shore Drive. The new beachfront home is being built by Ross Built Custom Homes with Max Gazz…
April 22, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Local designer featured at Bealls Florida

Local designer featured at Bealls Florida

BRADENTON – Kelly Hunt grew up on Anna Maria Island and her Island-inspired creative designs appear on a line of beach towels now sold at 68 Bealls Florida stores statewide. Hunt now lives in Brad…
April 22, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Farrington resigns, seeks supervisor of elections job

Farrington resigns, seeks supervisor of elections job

MANATEE COUNTY – County voters will ultimately determine whether former Chief of Staff Scott Farrington or recent gubernatorial appointee James Satcher serves as Manatee County’s next supervisor of e…
April 15, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Reimagining Pine Avenue bid higher than expected

Reimagining Pine Avenue bid higher than expected

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy is among those disappointed with the $1.4 bid received from C-Squared to construct a one-block Reimagining Pine Avenue prototype area. On March 25, C-Squared submit­t…
April 15, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Commission receives proposed charter amendments

Commission receives proposed charter amendments

ANNA MARIA – Six potential charter amendments and an ad­ditional recommendation proposed by the charter review committee have been presented for city commission consideration. Charter Review Commi…
April 15, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
City to grandfather existing CBD, hemp sales

City to grandfather existing CBD, hemp sales

ANNA MARIA – Businesses in the city that currently sell CBD and hemp products will be allowed to continue doing so with a soon-to-be-adopted grandfathering exception. A city ordinance adopted in 2…
April 8, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Another Reimagining Pine Avenue decision looms

Another Reimagining Pine Avenue decision looms

ANNA MARIA – For the fourth time, commissioners will soon be asked to accept or reject a Reimagining Pine Avenue bid proposal submitted by the C-Squared construction company. On March 25, City Cle…
April 8, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Dietrich home demolished

Dietrich home demolished

ANNA MARIA – Like so many others on Anna Maria Island, the ground-level house at 101 Mangrove Ave. that long served as home to the late Jack and Betty Dietrich and their family has been demolished…
April 8, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Disputed, then approved beach home being built

Disputed, then approved beach home being built

ANNA MARIA – Construction is well underway on Fedora Campbell’s new beachfront home at 105 Elm Ave. Campell’s new home is being built in front of and seaward of the neighboring home at 107 Elm Ave…
April 8, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Marina clients face inclusion in canal lawsuit

Marina clients face inclusion in canal lawsuit

CORTEZ – Cortez Village Marina clients who use the privately-owned Hunters Point canal may soon be named as additional defendants in a 2022 canal dispute-related lawsuit. The Sun recently obtained…
April 1, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Commission struggling with CBD regulation

Commission struggling with CBD regulation

ANNA MARIA – Revising the city of Anna Maria’s CBD and hemp prohibitions is proving to be challenging for city officials. Anna Maria’s code of ordinances currently prohibits the sale of any produc…