Ray Cooney
Ray Cooney was elected president of The Graphic Printing Company in December 2023. He became publisher of The Commercial Review on July 1, 2020, while retaining the title of editor he has held since Dec. 1, 2014. He served managing editor from July 2013 through November 2014, assistant managing editor from November 2005 through July 2013 and sports editor from March 2001 through July 2013.
He earned the most awards of any journalist in Division III in the Hoosier State Press Association Better Newspaper Contest for four consecutive years from 2013 through 2016. His first-place honors this year were for in-depth feature, sports feature, general news photo and video.
In his career he has also won HSPA awards for sports commentary, editorial writing, use of graphics, community service, news writing under deadline pressure, sports action photo, sports feature photo, headline writing, editorial page, profile feature and multiple picture group. He had picked up nine Indiana Associated Press Media Editors awards earlier in the year, including first place for business writing, non-deadline sports story and headline writing.
Cooney was honored with the Indiana High School Athletic Association Distinguished Media Service Award in 2012, and also received the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Outstanding Baseball Media Award in 2009.
A native of Avon, Ohio, Cooney graduated from St. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio) in 1996 and Cleveland State University in 2000. He was the inaugural editor of The Cleveland Stater at CSU, and also worked for The Morning Journal (Lorain, Ohio) and The Chronicle-Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) before moving to Jay County.
Cooney lives in Portland with his dog, Scooter.
Recent Stories
JCDC interviews start this week
Organization hopes to hire community developer, grant writer soon
Jay County Development Corporation hopes to select a new employee in the next month to bring the organization back to full staffing.
Agreement approved
Harmony Cafe will get loan to add new equipment
Portland City Council approved an economic development agreement Monday with Harmony Cafe and Studio.
Foundation grants $50,000
Funds will be used to supply local food banks
The Portland Foundation announced Monday in a news release that it is awarding a $50,000 grant to United Way of Jay County to help address food insecurity while Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are unavailable.
Students return
Junior high, IMC wing reopens following 2024 tornado
Students returned to the junior high and Instructional Media Center (library) wing of Jay County Junior-Senior High School on Monday for the first time since the September 2024 tornado.
Raises approved for all staff
School board OKs agreement with JCTA, other increases
Jay School Board approved an agreement with Jay Classroom Teachers Association as well as updates for other employees during its special meeting Monday.
Applying for grant
Dunkirk will seek funding to help pave seven streets
Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins told the city council during its brief meeting Monday that plans are to apply for grant funding to help pay for paving seven streets in 2026.
JC closes season at regional
Garringer finishes 49th, May 68th to lead Patriots
Jay County High School junior Caleb Garringer improved his time by more than 35 seconds over the previous week and was the top Patriot finisher in Saturday’s regional meet hosted by New Haven at Huntington University.
Plans for The Venue fall through
Main Street building was targeted for performance facility
Portland Redevelopment Commission learned Friday that Dave Smuts, one of the music promoters involved in the project, indicated that his group will not pursue development of The Venue at 105 W. Main St. and that they are open to selling the building.
Emergency planning
Firefighter presents information about prep for incidents at airport
Portland firefighter Zach Hudson presented information to the city’s aviation board Wednesday regarding work toward creating a plan and providing training to familiarize emergency responders with the airport.
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