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
December 13, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Coryea notes and Van Ostenbridge texts shed light on termination efforts

Notes and texts shed light on Coryea termination efforts

MANATEE COUNTY – Private meeting notes and text messages disclosed in a public records request reveal more about County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge’s failed efforts to terminate County Adminis…
December 11, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Commission abandons Coryea termination efforts

Commission abandons Coryea termination efforts

MANATEE COUNTY – Led by County Commissioner George Kruse, the Manatee County Commission has ended its efforts to potentially terminate County Administrator Cheri Coryea. On Nov. 19, Kruse joined c…
December 9, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Great blue herons’ nest in jeopardy

Great blue herons’ nest in jeopardy

ANNA MARIA – Seana and Jeff Long are concerned about a great blue herons’ nest located in one of several backyard Australian pine trees at 315 Iris St., across the canal from their family home. As…
December 9, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Kruse call log reveals private conversations between commissioners

Call log reveals private conversations among county commissioners

MANATEE COUNTY – County Commissioner George Kruse’s personal call log indicates he has had numerous private phone conversations with commissioners Vanessa Baugh, James Satcher and Kevin Van Ostenbrid…
December 7, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Satcher named first in Barfield court filings

Satcher named as defendant in public records action

MANATEE COUNTY – County Commissioner James Satcher is named as the sole defendant in a public records complaint filed today by paralegal Michael Barfield. Barfield, a Sunshine Law expert, filed th…
December 7, 2020
By Joe Hendricks

AMI COVID-19 cases climb to 166

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – COVID-19 has reached a new high on Anna Maria Island – 166 cases have been reported since March, according to the Sunday, Dec. 6 Florida Division of Emergency Management report…
December 7, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Food drive taking place Saturday

Food drive Saturday at Harvey Memorial

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Harvey Memorial Community Church, 300 Church St. in Bradenton Beach, is conducting a food drive on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donated food will be delivered t…
December 6, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Sebring appointed to Anna Maria Commission

Sebring appointed to Anna Maria Commission

ANNA MARIA – Doris “Deanie” Sebring is now an Anna Maria City Commissioner. Anna Maria resident Sharon Wisniewski also applied to serve the two-year commission term vacated by Commissioner Amy Tri…
December 5, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Liveaboard boater found dead

Liveaboard boater found dead

BRADENTON BEACH – Liveaboard boater Jerald Joseph Oliver, 60, was found dead and floating in the water at the Bradenton Beach Marina on Wednesday. Oliver’s body was discovered by marina employee A…
November 30, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
City Pier Grill opening soon

City Pier Grill opening soon

ANNA MARIA – The City Pier Grill could open this week or next, according to Brian Seymour, who will operate the business with partners Nick Graham and Vic Mattay. The exact opening date will be an…
November 30, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria formalizes public parking reductions

Anna Maria formalizes public parking reductions

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria’s previous elimination of 88 public parking spaces has been formalized by the adoption of Ordinance 20-877. Thirty-seven of the permanently eliminated parking s…
November 30, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria commissioner returns from COVID-19 illness

Anna Maria commissioner returns from COVID-19 illness

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria City Commissioner Joe Muscatello has recovered from his recent COVID-19 infection. During the Tuesday, Nov. 24 city commission meeting, Muscatello discussed his COVID exper…
November 30, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Proposed Coryea termination prompts procedural concerns

Proposed Coryea termination prompts concerns, objections

MANATEE COUNTY – Efforts to fire County Administrator Cheri Coryea have prompted objections and procedural concerns should the commission decide to terminate her from the position. Newly-elected c…
November 23, 2020
By Joe Hendricks

Chamber, Rotary honor businesses

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce has named its Businesses of the Year and its nonprofit organization of 2021. In conjunction, the Rotary Club of Anna Maria has named i…
November 23, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
BB seal

Bradenton Beach Commission accepts Sunshine Law settlements

Updated Nov. 29, 2020 – BRADENTON BEACH – The city has received a $350,000 settlement agreement payment from former Sunshine Law lawsuit defendants John Metz and Tjet Martin. The city has also rec…