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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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June 25, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
City prevails in preliminary Sunshine case hearing

City prevails in preliminary Sunshine case hearing

BRADENTON – Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas has ruled in favor of the city of Bradenton Beach regarding the reasonable foreseeability of a parking garage being something that wou…
June 24, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
County commission approves Coquina Beach tree removals

County commission approves Coquina Beach tree removals

BRADENTON – Manatee County commissioners have approved removing 97 more Australian pines from the south Coquina Beach parking lot, bringing the total so far to 103, including six already removed earl…
June 24, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
City to county: 'Not so fast' on tree removal

City to county: ‘Not so fast’ on tree removal

BRADENTON BEACH – City Building Official Steve Gilbert has the city commission’s support to issue a stop work order on a county drainage project that would remove at least 103 and possibly up to 232…
June 18, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Muscle up! Strong men hit the beach

Muscle up! Strong men hit the beach

MANATEE COUNTY – The 2019 Tachi Palace World’s Strongest Man Competition began in downtown Bradenton on Thursday, June 13, shifted to Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach on Friday and concluded at Manat…
June 18, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria provides ongoing Center support

Anna Maria provides ongoing Center support

ANNA MARIA – In response to its annual funding request, The Center of Anna Maria Island will receive $21,000 from the city of Anna Maria. Center officials sought $28,000, but during the Thursday…
June 15, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Peter Osman a ‘Doggone’ good artist

Peter Osman a ‘Doggone’ good artist

CORTEZ – Peter “The Dog Man” Osman has spent the past 30 years making his whimsical “Doggone” sculptures and the past two years selling them at Bunny & Pirates Bazaar in his new hometown of Corte…
June 11, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Boogie-woogie legend resides in Holmes Beach

Boogie-woogie legend resides in Holmes Beach

HOLMES BEACH – At 90 years young, Holmes Beach resident Bob Seeley remains one of the world’s premier boogie-woogie pianists. In April, Seeley traveled to Michigan for a series of shows in his hom…
June 7, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Mason Martin Builders selected to build pier restaurant and bait shop

Mason Martin Builders selected to build pier restaurant and bait shop

ANNA MARIA – Frank Agnelli’s Mason Martin Builders is the city’s top choice to construct the restaurant and bait shop at the T-end of the new Anna Maria City Pier. Based on Mayor Dan Murphy’s reco…
June 7, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
County Commission authorizes removal of six Australian pines

County Commission authorizes removal of six Australian pines

BRADENTON – Six Australian pines will be removed from the Coquina Beach parking lot for now and a comprehensive project report will be presented to Manatee County Commissioners on Tuesday, June 18…
June 4, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Holiday crowds, traffic overwhelming

Holiday crowds, traffic overwhelming

BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton Beach officials are concerned about the overcrowding and parking issues that occurred at and around Coquina Beach and Cortez Beach during Memorial Day weekend. A 6:28 a…
June 4, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Sunshine defendants make offers to compromise

Sunshine defendants make offers to compromise

BRADENTON BEACH – The six defendants in the Sunshine Law lawsuit have proposed compromise offers that seek financial reimbursement from the city of Bradenton Beach and co-plaintiff Jack Clarke. Co…
June 4, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
AM Pier rendering

Pier building bids received but not revealed

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria received four bids from construction firms seeking the contract to build the new restaurant and the bait shop at the T-end of the new city pier. During last wee…
May 31, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Proposed tree removals delayed

Proposed tree removals delayed

BRADENTON BEACH – More than 100 Australian pine trees designated for removal at the south end of the Coquina Beach parking lot will not be removed, at least until Manatee County commissioners review…
May 28, 2019
By Joe Hendricks

Fire & Stone taking corrective actions

CORTEZ – Fire & Stone Pizza owners Radka Watson and Peter Ross are working to address the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and Manatee County Code Enforcement vio…
May 27, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria salutes veterans on Memorial Day

Anna Maria salutes veterans on Memorial Day

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria hosted its third annual Memorial Day Patriotic Salute this morning under the shade structure at City Pier Park. “It’s a very special day for us in the city of A…