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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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March 18, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Manatee County beaches remain open

Manatee County beaches remain open

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As of this evening, there were no plans to close Manatee County’s public beaches on Anna Maria Island. Sarasota County beaches also remain open as of tonight. This afternoon…
March 16, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Hardship provision added to building moratorium

Hardship provision added to building moratorium

ANNA MARIA – The 60-day temporary emergency building moratorium enacted Wednesday, March 4 now includes a new hardship provision to allow some projects to break ground despite the moratorium. The…
March 16, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Manatee County declares state of emergency

Manatee County declares state of emergency

BRADENTON – As a fifth case of coronavirus (COVID-19) was announced in Manatee County today, commissioners declared a state of emergency. Manatee County Public Safety Department Director Jake Saue…
March 16, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
New City Pier expected to open in April

New City Pier expected to open in April

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy expects the new Anna Maria City Pier to open in April, but he has not yet determined an exact opening date. “It looks like in the April timeframe we’ll be opening the…
March 14, 2020
By Joe Hendricks

Manatee County School District extends spring break

MANATEE COUNTY – As a coronavirus (COVID-19) precautionary measure, spring break for Manatee County students has been extended by an additional week. Manatee County schools, including Anna Maria E…
March 14, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Longboat Key Club addressing potential coronavirus exposure

Longboat Key Club addressing potential coronavirus exposure

LONGBOAT KEY – The Resort at Longboat Key Club is dealing with an individual’s potential exposure to the coronavirus virus (COVID-19). On Friday, March 13, Resort at Longboat Key Club Managing Dir…
March 10, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Post office towing includes handicapped parking

Post office towing includes handicapped parking space

BRADENTON BEACH – New signs have been posted at the Bradenton Beach Post Office to further clarify the recently enacted after-hours public parking policies. Some of the new signs apply to the…
March 9, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
City prevails in KORN lawsuit

City prevails in KORN lawsuit

BRADENTON BEACH – The city of Bradenton Beach does not have to put four charter amendments proposed by the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee on an upcoming city bal…
March 9, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria enacts building moratorium

Anna Maria enacts building moratorium

ANNA MARIA – A 60-day emergency building moratorium is in effect in Anna Maria. The emergency moratorium was enacted by the city commission’s 4-1 adoption of Ordinance 20-863 during an emergency m…
March 3, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Vacation rental bills appear to be dead

Vacation rental bills appear to be dead

TALLAHASSEE – Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and City Commission Chair Carol Carter flew to Tallahassee Monday morning, March 2, planning to address the Florida Senate Rules Committee regarding proposed…
March 2, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Potential tenants attend City Pier pre-bid meeting

Potential tenants attend City Pier pre-bid meeting

ANNA MARIA – More than a dozen restaurateurs are potentially interested in leasing the new City Pier restaurant and bait shop. Last week, the deadline to submit proposals in response to the city’s…
March 2, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Manatee County resident being treated for coronavirus

Manatee County resident being treated for coronavirus

MANATEE COUNTY – The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) has announced that a Manatee County resident is one of the first two people in Florida to presumptively test positive for the coronavirus…
February 25, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Mayor provides pier lease update

Mayor provides pier lease update

ANNA MARIA – On Wednesday, Feb. 19, Mayor Dan Murphy provided city commissioners with an e-mail update regarding the request for proposals (RFP) the city issued in January seeking a new city pier ten…
February 25, 2020
By Joe Hendricks

Vacation rental bills looming large

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Legislature is getting closer to potentially taking away local governments’ ability to regulate short-term vacation rentals and vacation rental advertising. And Anna Mari…
February 25, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Parking tram discussions continue

Parking tram discussions continue

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials and business owners in and around the Bridge Street business district agree that a parking shuttle program is a good idea. But no one has stepped forward yet and o…