Jack Ronald

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.


OPINION

Memories sparked of elections past

The election is now in the rearview mirror, so maybe it’s safe to share some stories from elections past.

OPINION

Algorithms can be a little bit off

Anyone who spends any time on the internet has learned to live with the algorithms that spy on us.

OPINION

Pandemic has its side effects

Side effects of COVID-19 are likely to be studied for years to come.

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Glasses missed out on exciting trip

I should be outside raking leaves, but I don’t want to lose my glasses. Let me explain, or try to.

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Reading tastes have been eclectic

“So what have you been reading lately?” someone asked. As usual, the answer is: A little bit of everything.

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Host hodgepodge had an appeal

“That guy’s beard,” I said to my wife as we were watching a baseball game, “makes him look like Happy the Hobo.” She looked up from her knitting for half a second and said, “You’re right.”

BACK IN THE SADDLE

How’s retirement? It has been great

“So,” someone asked, “how do you like retirement?”

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Hanlin’s served up Coke, literature

I was a Hanlin’s guy.

OPINION

Cardwell helped let sunshine in

Chances are you never knew Dick Cardwell.

OPINION

Retirement has brought new jobs

I have a confession to make.

OPINION

Admiration required no technology

Add this to the list of complications of aging: Sometimes you can’t get a bite to eat because your phone is too old.

OPINION

Our county’s namesake is a keeper

So, I wondered, what about John Jay?

OPINION

Mind has been traveling to Belarus

“Are you in Belarus again?” asked my wife.

OPINION

Pot, platter made it in one piece

The pot made it safely home intact. (No, it’s not what you’re thinking.)

OPINION

Hurdles need not get in the way

When I read Bob Hambrock’s obituary a few weeks back, my first reaction was regret.

OPINION

Pandemic a constant during vacation

Today — Aug. 5 — I was supposed to be at the Jaffrey Church Fair. But COVID-19 was having none of that.

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Television helps with normalization

Years from now, when historians try to make sense of our current era when so much social change is afoot, they might find themselves watching re-runs of home improvement shows on cable TV.

OPINION

Old man moment left some marks

“What the heck happened to you?”

OPINION

River and life are wound together

A few weeks back, my wife and I hiked along the Salamonie.

HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES

Happy 100th

Lowe celebrating century today.

OPINION

Have a fun and safe celebration

A Fourth without fireworks? That’s hard to imagine.

OPINION

How will you answer the question?

Did I ever march?

HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES

Ready for stage five

Courthouse restrictions will be lifted on July 6.

HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES

Hospital services changed

There will be no more babies born at IU Health Jay, except for emergencies, as of July 1.

NEWS

Tight $$ cancel Meridian project

A proposed re-vamping of Meridian Street through downtown Portland won’t be happening any time soon.

BACK IN THE SADDLE

A friend’s thoughts on turning 80

This week, I’m going to yield the floor to my good and great friend Peter Coates.

HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES

‘A sensible middle’

Gulley to recommend August reopening of Jay Schools with mitigation plan.

OPINION

Story chosen for Facebook debut

I’ve found the book.

HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES

County updated on flood control

Who is responsible for the portion of Millers Branch that runs beneath Portland to the Salamonie River?

HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES

Bright new look

Nature trail being reborn after fall removal of dead ash trees.

OPINION

Words tend to make their way back

Funny how your words can come back at you.

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Stay-at-home led to shaggier look

Let’s talk about hair.

NEWS

County is now at 45 cases

Jay County’s coronavirus numbers continue to creep up, with the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases now at 45.

JAY SUPERIOR COURT

Ludy faces challenge from Dues

Max Ludy faced no opposition when he was first elected Jay Superior Court Judge in 2008 and no opponent when he was re-elected in 2014. Now he faces a Republican primary challenge from attorney Gail Dues.

BACK IN THE SADDLE

COVID-19 has had impact on mood

Let’s see if we can agree on a couple of things:

NEWS

Focused on fall

Now the focus shifts to the fall.

SCHOOLS

Looking to fall

Now the focus shifts to the fall.

FAMILY

YSB adjusts to virus

Stay-at-home restrictions put strain on organization’s residential program.

OPINION

We’ve learned a lot from pandemic

More things we’ve learned during the coronavirus pandemic:

BUSINESS

Some auctions resume, others moving online

The auction logjam is about to break.

OPINION

Virus resulted in worry for friends

I was worried about Tamuna.

HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES

Masks required

Effective immediately, any member of the public entering Jay County Courthouse must be wearing a face mask or face covering.

LOCAL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

By appointment only

County government set to return to work; details to be finalized at meeting Monday.

NEWS

COVID-19 case shuts down MSSL

Wiring systems manufacturer Motherson Sumi Systems Limited of Portland is expected to reopen Friday after the plant has been disinfected.

OPINION

Plan for things to look forward to

Remember back when we were able to make plans?

NEWS

Commissioners waiting for governor’s lead

All eyes are on Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb.

HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES

Essential business? Many in Jay County make list

What’s essential?

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Pandemic experiences aren’t equal

A pandemic may be a great leveler in that we’re all at risk.

SCHOOLS

JC shifts grad date, requirements

The date for Jay County High School’s commencement has been changed, and graduation requirements for the COVID-19 impacted Class of 2020 have been adjusted.

HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES

Go for a walk in the face of the COVID-19

Sunshine is in the forecast.
PORTLAND WEATHER

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