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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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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…
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…