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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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May 14, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Waste Management gets first crack at solid waste contract

Waste Management gets first crack at solid waste contract

ANNA MARIA – Residents may see their trash and recycling bills goes down, but vacation rental owners and Anna Maria business owners may see their bills increase significantly. Mayor Dan Murphy is…
May 14, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Commissioner shares thoughts on 2019 legislative session

Commissioner shares thoughts on 2019 legislative session

ANNA MARIA – On Sunday, May 12, Anna Maria Commissioner Carol Carter provided an email recap of the Florida Legislature’s recently-concluded 2019 legislative session. “We can breathe a sigh of rel…
May 8, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Golf tournament honors a beloved friend

Golf tournament honors a beloved friend

CORTEZ – The life and legacy of Nancy Franklin will be celebrated with the inaugural Nancy Franklin Flippin’ Mullet Open Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 18. Franklin was the Swordfish Gri…
May 7, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Magistrate rules in city’s favor on noise citation

Magistrate rules in city’s favor on noise citation

ANNA MARIA – In addition to her unregistered Airbnb ruling, Special Magistrate Karla Owens ruled in favor of the city Anna Maria on three additional cases addressed during the April 30 code enforceme…
May 7, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
City prevails in preliminary Sunshine hearing

City prevails in preliminary Sunshine hearing

BRADENTON – Twelfth Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas has ruled in favor of the city of Bradenton Beach, denying three legal actions sought by Sunshine Law lawsuit defendant John Metz. Nicholas…
May 7, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria hosting annual Memorial Day salute

Anna Maria hosting annual Memorial Day salute

The city of Anna Maria will host its third annual Memorial Day Patriotic Symphony Salute on Monday, May 27. The Memorial Day event will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. under the shade sail structure at…
May 7, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Unregistered Airbnb fined $250 per day

Unregistered Airbnb fined $250 per day

ANNA MARIA – Special Magistrate Karla Owens has levied a $250 per day fine for the unregistered operation of an Airbnb vacation rental at 302 North Shore Drive. Owens issued this order during the…
April 30, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Flippin’ Mullet hosting golf tournament in Franklin’s honor

Flippin’ Mullet hosting golf tournament in Franklin’s honor

CORTEZ – The Flippin’ Mullet Sports Bar at the Swordfish Grill in Cortez is hosting the inaugural Nancy Franklin Flippin’ Mullet Open Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 18. The tournament wi…
April 27, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Dog park renamed in Laurie Crawford’s honor

Dog park renamed in Laurie Crawford’s honor

BRADENTON – The dog park at G.T. Bray Park in Bradenton is now the Laurie Crawford Dog Park. Opened in 2000 as the Happy Tails Dog Park, Manatee County’s first dog park is now named in honor of th…
April 23, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Speciale steps down as dock facilitator

Speciale steps down as dock facilitator

BRADENTON BEACH – Police Chief Sam Speciale will no longer serve as the facilitator and city liaison for the Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) yet-to-be completed floating dock project. Speci…
April 23, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Last pier piling driven

Last pier piling driven

ANNA MARIA – The last concrete piling for the new Anna Maria City Pier has been driven and the request for proposals (RFP) to build the new T-end restaurant and bait shop has been issued. On Wedne…
April 23, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Bicyclist loses life in Longboat Key accident

Bicyclist loses life in Longboat Key accident

Updated April 28, 2019 – LONGBOAT KEY – A bicyclist died Monday, April 22 after being involved in a fatal accident on Gulf of Mexico Drive. Ridgley Harrison III, 67, of New York died in the accide…
April 20, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Commission wants to floodproof city buildings

Commission wants to floodproof city buildings

BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton Beach City Hall, the Tingley Memorial Library, the police station and the public works buildings will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Instead of potentially…
April 20, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Manatee County logo

Coquina Beach parking limited

BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County officials remind beachgoers to avoid the south end of the Coquina Beach parking lot during the busy Memorial Day weekend. The south end of the beach parking lot re…
April 16, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Pedal pub proposal falls flat

Pedal bus proposal falls flat

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria commissioners offered no support for a proposed eight-to-12 passenger pedal bus that would allow passengers to drink alcohol while traveling in traffic lanes at slow speeds…