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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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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…
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…