Jack Ronald
Jack Ronald (1948-2002) served as president and chairman of the Graphic Printing Company from 1985 until the time of his death April 23, 2022. He was publisher of The Commercial Review for 38 years and editor for 32 years.
He is a member of the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame.
Ronald earned a litany of journalism awards from Hoosier State Press Association, Indiana Associated Press Media Editors and Inland Press. He received the Charlie Biggs Community Commitment Award from the Hoosier State Press Association in 2014.
A 1970 graduate of Earlham College, he became a Fulbright Scholar in 1998 and a Fulbright Senior Specialist in 2012. He won the Indiana Journalism Award from Ball State University in 2004.
The Portland High School graduate is a strong supporter of community journalism and has also used his skills to teach journalists around the world. He has served as a trainer in Moldova, Kyrgyzstan and most-recently Myanmar.
NEWS
Commissioners agree to deal
Jay County Commissioners and incoming Sheriff Dwane Ford formalized a contract Monday morning setting Ford’s salary at $98,000.
OPINION
We’ll celebrate together, as family
It’s inevitable, I suppose, that we get a bit sentimental and reflective during the holidays.
SCHOOLS
Jay looking to refinance
Jay Schools will move forward with refinancing about $13.8 million in debt related to the 2006 renovation project at Jay County High School. But the school board has not yet decided how to put to use the estimated $1.6 million in savings.
NEWS
Deal set with sheriff
Sheriff-elect Dwane Ford and Jay County Commissioners tentatively agreed on a new contract Monday that sets Ford’s salary at $98,000 and continues to send revenues from prisoner meals and tax warrant collection fees to the county’s general fund.
BUSINESS
Blankenbakers leave jewelry business
When Bill Blankenbaker first started work in the building at 213 S. Main St. in Dunkirk, he was a sophomore in high school learning to be a meat cutter.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Newton, Ford are collaborating
Jay County Sheriff Ray Newton told county commissioners Monday he’s working with sheriff-elect Dwane Ford to assure a smooth transition going into the new year.
BACK IN THE SADDLE
Travels included odd musical mix
“Who put this mix together?” asked my wife.
BACK IN THE SADDLE
Remembering Thanksgiving over the years
Thanksgiving is a day for family memories.
NEWS
ArborShire carves out niche
Sometimes it’s easier to put your toe in the water than plunge into the deep end.
OPINION
Weekend was busy with wife away
I don’t do nothing well. That’s not really a double negative. What I don’t excel at is doing “nothing.”
SCHOOLS
Curriculum updated
Curriculum at Jay County High School is being revamped to help academically qualified students earn an associate’s degree or significant college credit hours at little or no cost before graduation.
SCHOOLS
School bonds could be refinanced
Jay Schools could save about $1.6 million in interest payments by refinancing the bonds used for the high school renovation project in 2006.
BACK IN THE SADDLE
Poet's powerful words still endure
A poet died last week, a guy you’ve probably never heard of.
NEWS
Donnelly makes stop
A month after a young Hoosier was identified as the next target for beheading by the Islamic State, Sen. Joe Donnelly is still hopeful he may be released.
NEWS
Claytor touts experience, balance
The office of Indiana State Auditor may sound obscure to some, but Mike Claytor believes it’s essential to providing balance in the highest levels of state government.
BACK IN THE SADDLE
Route eventually put pinball on tilt
A confession: I nearly lost my job as a newspaper carrier.
NEWS
Jay Schools expands program
A pilot program putting technology in the hands of ninth graders will be expanded to all class levels at Jay County High School next fall.
NEWS
Responsibility is key
Shon Byrum isn’t opposed to confined animal feeding operations, but he’d like to see a better balance between their development and the community’s needs.
ELECTION
Civility highlights forum
Civility, mutual respect and a love of Jay County dominated a “Meet the Candidates” forum Tuesday in Portland.
SCHOOLS
Long welcomes accountability
Accountability in the realm of public education isn’t going to go away. And that’s just fine with Jay Schools superintendent Tim Long.
OPINION
Buzzing the race was a bad idea
It’s been more than 25 years, so the statute of limitations has probably expired. That means it’s safe to tell the story.
OPINION
Simple idea has changed the world
Every third grader in Jay County heard this story last week, so it’s worth sharing with a larger audience.
NEWS
Jay Schools’ budget OK’d
A Jay Schools budget topping more than $37 million was approved Monday night for 2015.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Jay, SA are on delays today
Jay Schools are on a three-hour delay today. South Adams is on a two-hour delay.
BACK IN THE SADDLE
Artifacts have no historic value, yet
In some ways, I blame it all on Neil Armstrong.
BACK IN THE SADDLE
Postcards don't give a full picture
The last of the Indiana license plates disappear about the middle of New York State.
NEWS
JCTA, board reach a deal
Jay Schools and the Jay Classroom Teachers Association has reached agreement on a 2014-15 contract, even though last year’s contract is still embroiled in a legal battle.
NEWS
Breaking: Teacher contract approved
Jay Schools and the Jay Classroom Teachers Association have reached agreement on a 2014-15 contract, even though last year’s contract is still embroiled in a legal battle.
BACK IN THE SADDLE
Trip to Roadshow was worthwhile
8:15 a.m. EDT — We are sitting at the South Bend airport, waiting for a train. I know that sounds a little goofy, but the South Shore Railroad — the cheapest, best, no-hassle way to get into Chicago from Indiana — has its eastern-most station at the airport.
NEWS
Davis is retiring from OCRA
Bill Davis is retiring as executive director of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs as of Sept. 2.
BACK IN THE SADDLE
Kayak was a little less than stable
There’s nothing to worry about, the woman said. It’s next to impossible to fall out of a kayak.
OPINION
Nothing beat a fried egg sandwich
It was the first — and only — thing my father ever taught me to cook.
BACK IN THE SADDLE
Waitress outshined surroundings
It was, without a doubt, the worst hotel in South Bend.
OPINION
Music festival had crowd bouncing
The crowd wasn’t so much dancing as it was bouncing along to the music.
NEWS
Budget gets board approval
A $36.7 million budget for Jay Schools was approved Monday for 2014, but school board members expressed concern about the school corporation’s year-end cash balance and hope changes in employee health insurance can provide some relief.
OPINION
Jay County is still home
George Miller’s reasons for stepping down from the presidency of Martin University in Indianapolis aren’t clear.
NEWS
A fitting designation
“Fitting” was the word of the day Saturday as Geneva was recognized by the Indiana Audubon Society as the first Bird Town in the state.
NEWS
Test results show little change
Preliminary ISTEP results from the glitch-plagued spring exams showed Jay County’s scores down one-tenth of one percent.
BACK IN THE SADDLE
Familiar faces headed for playoffs
Footballs are flying, but it’s still baseball season at our house.
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