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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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July 27, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
County Commission adopts mandatory mask resolution

County Commission adopts mandatory mask resolution

UPDATED July 27 at 11:15 p.m. – MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County now has a mandatory face-covering resolution in place. On Monday, county commissioners voted 4-3 in favor of adopting and implementi…
July 26, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
County commissioners to vote on mandatory face coverings Monday

County commissioners to vote on mandatory masks Monday

MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County commissioners are expected to vote on whether to mandate face coverings countywide on Monday, July 27. Monday’s meeting will take place at the Bradenton Area Conven…
July 25, 2020
By Joe Hendricks

School district releases learning option selections

UPDATED July 26, 2020 – MANATEE COUNTY – The School District of Manatee County has determined the percentages of middle school and high school students who intend to begin the school year using in-pe…
July 20, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Gail Garneau honored as retirement nears

Gail Garneau honored as retirement nears

BRADENTON BEACH – Longtime Bradenton Beach Code Enforcement Officer Gail Garneau is retiring at the end of the month, with July 31 being her final day. On behalf of the city and the city commissio…
July 20, 2020
By Joe Hendricks

City officials question ‘Make a Break For It’ ad

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials expressed concerns about an advertisement the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) recently ran in the Miami Herald that encouraged south Floridians to…
July 15, 2020
By Joe Hendricks

Schools scheduled to reopen on Aug. 17

MANATEE COUNTY – The Manatee County School Board voted 3-2 to start the school year on Monday, Aug. 17. The previously discussed reopening plan called for schools to open on  Monday, Aug. 10 and t…
July 14, 2020
By Joe Hendricks

Bradenton Beach City Commission now recommends masks

BRADENTON BEACH – The Bradenton Beach City Commission now recommends, but does not require, that masks or face coverings be worn in Bradenton Beach. The Bradenton Beach Commission engaged in its f…
July 13, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Governor says bar restrictions will remain in place

Governor says bar restrictions will remain in place

BRADENTON – Gov. Ron DeSantis says he does not anticipate reopening bars without food licenses anytime soon. During Saturday’s press conference at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, The Sun asked…
July 13, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
School reopening plan requires mandatory face coverings

School reopening plan includes mandatory face coverings

MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County students, teachers and staff members will be required to wear face coverings in school buildings and on school buses if schools reopen on Aug. 10 or soon thereafter…
July 12, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
School board members question the legality of reopening order

School board members question legality of reopening order

MANATEE COUNTY – Education officials differ on whether schools must reopen for in-person learning in August as recently ordered by Florida Department of Education (DOE) Commissioner Richard Corcoran…
July 9, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
High school graduate serving as city intern

High school graduate serving as city intern

ANNA MARIA – High school graduate and lifelong Anna Maria resident Augustus “Gus” Bayard is spending his summer working as an intern for the city of Anna Maria. On June 11, his second day on the j…
July 9, 2020
By Joe Hendricks

School Board to discuss reopening today

MANATEE COUNTY – The Manatee County School Board will continue discussing its school reopening plan today. The discussion will take place during the school board workshop that begins at 1 p.m. The…
July 4, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Fourth of July celebrated on Bradenton Beach beaches and waterways

Fourth of July celebrated on beaches and waterways

BRADENTON BEACH – Folks flocked to Bradenton Beach and the south end of Anna Maria Island to celebrate the Fourth of July. At 9:30 a.m., a short line of vehicles towing personal watercraft and boa…
July 4, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Nurse and others assist unconscious Island Time guest

Nurse and others assist unconscious Island Time guest

BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton resident and registered nurse Cindy Zembrzuski recently helped revive a fallen patron at Island Time Bar & Grill in Bradenton Beach. Now she’s caring for COVID-19 pati…
July 2, 2020
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria extends mandatory mask order

Anna Maria extends mandatory mask order

Updated July 3, 2020 – ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy and the Anna Maria City Commission have extended the city’s mandatory mask order for another seven days. The emergency mask order originally en…