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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 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…
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…