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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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May 26, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
County’s plan to remove Coquina Beach trees meets opposition

County’s plan to remove Coquina Beach trees meets opposition

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners are surprised and dismayed to learn that Manatee County plans to remove up to 120 Australian pine trees from the south end of the Coquina Beach parking area. T…
May 22, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Lessons learned from Hurricane Irma

Lessons learned from Hurricane Irma

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane Irma’s visit to the Anna Maria Island area in 2017 taught us how to better prepare for the upcoming hurricane season that starts June 1. When it comes to hurricane prepa…
May 21, 2019
By Joe Hendricks

Pine Avenue restaurant proposed

ANNA MARIA – On Thursday, May 23, city commissioners are scheduled to discuss the proposed construction of a 45-seat restaurant and residential structure at 415 Pine Ave. Thursday’s meeting will b…
May 21, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Golfers go full-swing for Blessing Bags Project

Golfers go full-swing for Blessing Bags Project

CORTEZ – Ryan Young and Mike Divietro won the inaugural Nancy Franklin Flippin’ Mullet Open golf tournament that raised more than $16,000 for The Blessing Bags Project that assists homeless children…
May 14, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Confederate memorial - Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis

County voters to decide Confederate monument’s location

BRADENTON – Next year, Anna Maria Island’s registered voters will help determine the new location for the Confederate memorial erected in front of the Manatee County courthouse in 1924 and removed an…
May 14, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Unregistered Airbnb being fined $250 per day

Airbnb compliant; will not be fined

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria has concluded that the Airbnb at 302 North Shore Drive does not have to be registered as a vacation rental because it is owner-occupied and has onsite management…
May 14, 2019
By Joe Hendricks
Multi-use trail extension being pursued

Officials pursue multi-use trail extension

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria’s city officials want to fill in the city’s share of the gap that still exists between Anna Maria’s multi-use trail and Holmes Beach’s new multi-use trail. Both concrete tr…
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…