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 11, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
City manager amendment lacks supermajority support

City manager amendment lacks supermajority support

HOLMES BEACH – The quest to hire a city manager in Holmes Beach has suffered a significant setback, but the matter has not yet been officially decided. Switching from a strong mayor to a city mana…
April 10, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Pier pavilion closing temporarily

Pier pavilion closing temporarily

ANNA MARIA – The covered pavilion area near the Anna Maria City Pier construction site will be fenced off and closed to the public beginning Monday, April 15. The pier pavilion area will be closed…
April 9, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Sandpiper residents request lighted crosswalk

Sandpiper residents request lighted crosswalk

BRADENTON BEACH – At the request of Sandpiper Resort Co-Op residents, city commissioners are committing up to $50,000 to install a lighted crosswalk at the intersection of Gulf Drive and 27th Street…
April 9, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Rotary Club scores again with annual golf tournament

Rotary Club scores again with annual golf tournament

BRADENTON – The foursome sponsored by LaPensee Plumbing Pools & Air won the Fifth Annual Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island Charity Golf Tournament. More than 70 golfers participated in the Wedn…
April 6, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Increased costs anticipated for Bradenton Beach dock project

Increased costs anticipated for Bradenton Beach dock project

BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton Beach’s long-delayed $119,980 floating dock project may now cost an additional $45,302 to $69,456 to complete. On Wednesday, April 3, Police Chief and pier team facilit…
April 2, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Two city pier pilings fail

Two city pier pilings fail

ANNA MARIA – According to Mayor Dan Murphy, two concrete pier pilings recently fractured and the cause of one of the piling fractures remained unknown at week’s end. Murphy provided city commissio…
March 30, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Spring break is in full swing

Spring break in full swing

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island beaches are busy and business owners are enjoying a banner Spring break season. A mid-week visit to Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach found a quartet of students…
March 29, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Coquina Beach south parking lot closing Monday

Coquina Beach south parking lot closing Monday

BRADENTON BEACH – Parking spaces at Coquina Beach will become a little more scarce when the south parking lot closes on Monday, April 1. The south parking lot is closing for up to a year to accomm…
March 28, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Avenue C projects winding down

Avenue C projects winding down

BRADENTON BEACH – Avenue C residents should see drainage projects completed before summer, according to city officials. City commissioners have approved Westra Construction’s request to extend its…
March 26, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria enacts sign moratorium

Anna Maria enacts sign moratorium

ANNA MARIA – An emergency sign moratorium is now in effect in the city of Anna Maria. Enacted by the city commission during an emergency meeting on Thursday, March 21, the temporary moratorium pro…
March 26, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Pier change orders requested

Pier change orders requested

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria commissioners denied i+iconSoutheast’s request to extend by nine days the completion date for the construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier walkway and T-end platform. D…
March 26, 2019
By Joe Hendricks

Sunshine filings continue

BRADENTON BEACH – Several court filings have been made recently regarding the Sunshine Law lawsuit filed against six former city advisory board members. On Friday, March 21, one day after deposing…
March 26, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
City attorney deposed for Sunshine lawsuit

City attorney deposed for Sunshine lawsuit

BRADENTON – Attorney Thomas Shults spent six hours deposing City Attorney Ricinda Perry under oath. Perry’s videotaped deposition took place Wednesday, March 20 at the Manatee County Judicial Cent…
March 19, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Commission rejects Sunshine lawsuit counteroffer

Commission rejects Sunshine lawsuit counteroffer

BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton Beach commissioners have rejected the settlement counteroffer proposed by the six defendants in the 2017 Sunshine Law lawsuit. The defendants had until midnight Monday…
March 16, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
County commissioners tour pier construction site

County commissioners tour pier construction site

ANNA MARIA – Manatee County Commissioners Betsy Benac, Steve Jonsson and Carol Whitmore took a boat tour of the Anna Maria City Pier construction site Friday afternoon. Using tourist tax and surpl…