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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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April 28, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Majority of Bradenton Beach Police Officers oppose unionization

On Monday, April 27, six Bradenton Beach police officers informed the mayor and city commission, in writing, that they would vote against unionizing the city’s police department. 
April 28, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Satos join Seymour in City Pier lease partnership 

 ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria City Commission has authorized Mayor Mark Short to negotiate the potential lease of the larger City Pier building to Brian Seymour’s GSM Partners LLC, a limited liability…
April 28, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Love and Schultz receive Pat Copeland Scholarships

Courtney Schultz and Jack Love are this year’s Pat Copeland Scholarship award winners.
April 28, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Professional Municipal Clerks Week honors AMI’s city clerks

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – In honor of Anna Maria Island’s city clerks, the cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach have proclaimed Sunday, May 3, through Saturday, May 9, as Professional Mun…
April 28, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Arbor Day celebrated with tree plantings

On Friday, April 24, trees were planted in Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach in honor of Arbor Day.
April 28, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Deputy ‘JoJo’ Parkinson reassigned

Deputy JoAnn “JoJo” Parkinson is no longer a member of the MCSO Anna Maria Unit.
April 20, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Commission considering changes to public comment and meeting procedures 

City commissioners are considering reducing the time allotted for public comment given during public hearings from five minutes to three minutes.
April 20, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

ScootCoupe driver arrested after accident

A Minnesota resident was arrested in Anna Maria after she crashed the three-wheeled ScootCoupe she was driving.
April 18, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Sailboat strikes Longboat Pass Bridge

UPDATED 4/20/26 11 p.m. LONGBOAT KEY – A sailboat struck the Longboat Pass Bridge on Friday morning. The boating accident temporarily impacted vechicular traffic on the bridge that connects Longbo…
April 17, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Impaired driver who killed Sara Danielle Holmes sentenced to 25 years in prison

BRADENTON – Cesar Navarrete, the impaired driver who killed Swordfish Grill bartender Sara Danielle Holmes in a DUI-related crash in 2024, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. On Thursday, Ap…
April 15, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Residents push back on cabana rental regulations

City officials are receiving pushback from some city residents and property owners regarding city’s new beach cabana rental regulations.
April 15, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Female students are the real Lucky Ducky Race for Pace winners 

 BRADENTON – The 17th Annual Lucky Ducky Race for Pace was held on the Manatee River on Saturday, April 11, and it raised more than $210,000 for the Pace Center for Girls, Manatee organization.&…
April 15, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Manatee Belle joins the Gulf Islands Ferry fleet 

The Gulf Islands Ferry service’s new and larger $3 million Manatee Belle ferry boat is now in service between Bradenton and Bradenton Beach.
April 15, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Demolition permit issued for old Wells Fargo bank building

Businessman Jake Spooner now has the city-issued demolition permit needed to demolish the former Wells Fargo bank building in Holmes Beach.
April 10, 2026
By Joe Hendricks

Rubber ducks still available for Lucky Ducky Race for Pace

There’s still time to adopt ducks to race in the 17th annual Lucky Ducky Race for Pace taking place along the Bradenton Riverwalk on Saturday, April 11.