Skip to main content
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.
Email Joe Hendricks
April 26, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
TDC supports Bradenton Beach dock expansion

TDC supports Bradenton Beach dock expansion

BRADENTON BEACH – The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) is supporting the city’s funding request for the expansion of the public dock near the Bridge Street Pier. The request, from…
April 26, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
County moving forward with Piney Point deep injection well

County approves Piney Point deep injection well contractor

MANATEE COUNTY – County commissioners have approved a construction agreement for a deep injection well as part of the efforts to permanently close the Piney Point property. Located in Palmetto, ne…
April 19, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
TDC supports Mote Marine on City Pier

TDC supports Mote Marine on City Pier

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy is one step closer to securing the $500,000 needed to design and install the Mote Marine Education Outreach Center on the Anna Maria City Pier. Today, the Manatee Cou…
April 19, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
Governor orders permanent closure of Piney Point

Governor orders permanent closure of Piney Point

PALMETTO – State leaders are committing financial resources for the ongoing Piney Point response efforts and the implementation of a long-term plan to permanently close the property. The Piney Poi…
April 12, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
Piney Point crisis averted, environmental concerns grow

Piney Point crisis averted; environmental concerns grow

PALMETTO – The wastewater discharge into Tampa Bay from a breached Piney Point retention pond near Port Manatee stopped Friday, April 9, but concerns are growing regarding the potential environmental…
April 12, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
News banners help promote Old Town Tram

New banners help promote Old Town Tram

BRADENTON BEACH – Banners are now in place as part of the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) ongoing efforts to make more people aware of the free Old Town Tram service. The fr…
April 12, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
City seeks $31,645 from last Sunshine Law lawsuit defendant

City seeks $31,645 from last Sunshine Law lawsuit defendant

BRADENTON BEACH – The city is seeking $31,645 in attorney fees, paralegal fees and legal costs from lawsuit defendant Reed Mapes. Mapes is the only defendant who has not settled with the city in t…
April 6, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
County says Piney Point crisis is “under control”

County says Piney Point crisis is “under control”

PALMETTO – County and state officials believe they now have the Piney Point crisis under control. During today’s 4 p.m. press conference, acting County Administrator Scott Hopes said, “This has be…
April 5, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
Second breach found at Piney Point

Additional leaks suspected at Piney Point

Updated Monday, April 5 at 5:45 p.m. – PALMETTO – Two more trouble spots have been identified by an infrared drone as engineers continue to drain wastewater into Tampa Bay from a pond in a seeping ph…
March 28, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
Holmes Beach mayor declines Van Ostenbridge's meeting request

Holmes Beach mayor declines Van Ostenbridge’s meeting request

HOLMES BEACH – Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth declined Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge’s request to meet and discuss the city’s past elimination of street-side parking spaces…
March 28, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
Single mom mourns loss of family chickens

Single mom laments chicken-keeping prohibition

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria resident Jennifer Kaleta recently discovered the hard way that city code prohibits live chickens and chicken coops. During public comment at the March 25 Anna Maria City Co…
March 26, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
Vaccination eligibility dropping to 40 and older

Vaccination eligibility dropping to age 40 and older

TALLAHASSEE – Florida residents age 40 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine beginning on Monday, March 29, Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced. Those 18 and older will be eligible t…
March 22, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
Bradenton Beach joining Cortez Bridge lawsuit

Bradenton Beach joining Cortez Bridge lawsuit

BRADENTON BEACH – The city of Bradenton Beach is joining plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit that opposes replacing the existing Cortez Bridge drawbridge with a fixed-span bridge. On Thursday, March 1…
March 22, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
FDLE: No crimes, Sunshine Law violations

FDLE: No crimes, Sunshine Law violations

Updated March 22, 2021 at 5:22 p.m. – MANATEE COUNTY – A Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) investigation found no evidence that four Manatee County commissioners committed crimes or violat…
March 21, 2021
By Joe Hendricks
Acting county administrator’s job attracts 30 applicants

Acting county administrator’s job attracts 30 applicants

MANATEE COUNTY – Between March 8 and March 12, the Manatee County Human Resources Department received 30 resumes from individuals interested in serving as the acting county administrator. Austin R…