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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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November 25, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Rotary, Chamber present annual business awards

Rotary, Chamber present annual business awards

HOLMES BEACH – This year’s Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island and Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce annual business awards ceremony was a celebration of com­munity and resiliency in the wake of las…
November 25, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
The Rod & Reel restaurant sets sail

The Rod & Reel restaurant sets sail

HOLMES BEACH – The Rod & Reel restaurant is now open as a landlocked affiliate of the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria that awaits replacement after its destruction by Hurricane Milton last year…
November 25, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
65th Street sidewalk plans discarded

65th Street sidewalk plans discarded

HOLMES BEACH – Due to public opposition, the city of Holmes Beach’s multi-use path enhancement project along Marina Drive will not include a brick paver sidewalk along 65th Street. According to the…
November 22, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
White Sands Beach Resort receives bomb threats

Male makes bomb, mass shooting threats on Anna Maria Island

HOLMES BEACH – Police responded to two separate bomb threats and a mass shooting threat at the White Sands Beach Resort, 6504 Gulf Drive, on Nov. 21. “We’re doing everything we can to identify the s…
November 18, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
New Rod & Reel expected to open this week

New Rod & Reel expected to open this week

HOLMES BEACH – If all goes accord­ing to plan, Oliver “Oli” Lemke will open The Rod & Reel restaurant in Holmes Beach on Friday, Nov. 21 at 8 a.m. The Rod & Reel is located at 3246 East Bay…
November 18, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria honors veterans with parade, recognition ceremony

Anna Maria honors veterans on Veterans Day

ANNA MARIA – Colder than usual weather didn’t chill the appreciation, attendance and enthusiasm for the city of Anna Maria’s Old Soldiers & Sailors Veterans Day parade and the post-parade veteran…
November 18, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Island Players celebrate ‘A Doublewide, Texas Christmas’

Island Players celebrate ‘A Doublewide, Texas Christmas’

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players’ hurricane-delayed production of “A Doublewide, Texas Christmas” opened on Nov. 13, and it was worth the wait. The performances will continue through Sunday, Nov. 23…
November 11, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Holmes Beach election: candidate comments, campaign finances

Newly-elected commissioners reflect on election

HOLMES BEACH – Incum­bent Commissioner Steve Oelfke, first-time candidate Jessica Patel and incumbent Commissioner Terry Schaefer won the three city commission seats decided in the city election that…
November 11, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
City declines to take over maintenance of SR 64 rights of way

City declines to take over maintenance of SR 64 rights of way

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners recently voted 4-0 against entering into a maintenance agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) pertaining to the roadside rights of way at the…
November 7, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Mayor rescinds employment offer to pending public works director

Mayor rescinds employment offer to pending public works director

HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth has rescinded her offer to Addie Javed to serve as the city’s next public works director and city engineer. Titsworth did so after the city received a phone call…
November 4, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Holmes Beach election results

Oelfke, Patel, Schaefer win Holmes Beach commission seats

HOLMES BEACH – Steve Oelfke, Jessica Patel and Terry Schaefer won city commission seats in the city election that concluded this evening. According to the unofficial election results posted at the M…
November 4, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
TDC supports Holmes Beach funding requests

TDC supports Holmes Beach funding requests

HOLMES BEACH – The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recommends county commission approval of the city of Holmes Beach’s request to use $395,011 in tourist development tax revenues to…
November 4, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Key Royale Drive speed tables installed

Key Royale Drive speed tables installed

HOLMES BEACH – Two speed tables are now in place in the 500 block of Key Royale Drive between Marina Drive and the Key Royale Bridge. Key Royale Drive is the only road that leads from Marina Drive t…
November 4, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Kwiatkowski named Florida Fire Marshal of the Year

Kwiatkowski named Florida Fire Marshal of the Year

BRADENTON – West Manatee Fire Rescue District (WMFR) Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski is the Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association’s 2025 Florida Fire Marshal of the Year. The award was pr…
October 27, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Neighborhood meeting addresses resiliency project impacts, concerns

Neighborhood meeting addresses resiliency project impacts, concerns

HOLMES BEACH – About 30 residents attended a neighborhood meeting held at the corner of Holmes Boulevard and 56th Street on Oct. 24. The meeting pertained to a $1.73 million sea level rise resilienc…