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.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
GIFT grant OK'd
The Portland Foundation received its Christmas present a week early.
NEWS
Lilly awarded
Clare Dirksen thought she was being beckoned to be part of a promotional video for dual-credit classes. She walked away with her college education fully funded.
SCHOOLS
New pathways may come soon
FORT RECOVERY — New graduation pathways are a signature away.
NEWS
New direction
There won't be three ghosts. But there will be three new directors, leading a three-part Christmas production.
SCHOOLS
Providing the tools
BERNE — About 12:15 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon, a Jay School Corporation bus carrying two students pulls up. A few minutes later, another student, from Bellmont, arrives in his truck.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Pair of seniors powers JC
Possession one: Shelby Caldwell 3-pointer from the left wing. Possession two: Caldwell 3-pointer from near the top of the key. Timeout Woodlan.
NEWS
FR to get new track, cameras
FORT RECOVERY — As the new year approaches, some new features were approved for the school grounds.
NEWS
Wendel is ‘pretty OK’ after surviving two near-death experiences
Josie (Guggenbiller) Wendel was living the life of a teenaged girl's dreams.
BUSINESS
Richards is new head of JCDC
When Travis Richards told his wife he was feeling the pull to become more involved with serving his community, he wasn’t sure what direction that desire would lead him.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Pryor is continuing career in athletics beyond expectations
Nick Pryor didn't envision a career in athletics. He certainly didn't expect to still be competing as he nears his 30s.
NEWS
Plan taking shape
PENNVILLE — It's still a few weeks away from the final presentation, but the plan is taking shape.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Roads set for ’19 conversion
If all goes well, the county will begin to convert 2.7 miles of stone road in 2019.
NEWS
City seeks sewer project funding
The City of Portland can use its $50,000 in wind farm economic development funds for drainage work around Jay County Courthouse if it so desires.
NEWS
Council OKs insurance change
Two issues that came before Jay County Commissioners at their last meeting were in county council's hands Wednesday night.
NEWS
What's for dinner?
On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, groups of 15 students gather in the music room at General Shanks Elementary School.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Paving the way
Every local entity that sought grant funding for road paving has been approved.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Fifth at state
The Patriots were happy with their performance. They had hoped their placing would be higher.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
ICC is in focus
For the last two years, Indiana Cheer Championship served as a warm-up for the Patriots. This year, it is the focus.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
View from the top
Are you scared? Won't you be claustrophobic? Why? Those were some of the typical questions asked before I climbed to the top of a wind turbine this summer.
NEWS
District will wait on trailer request
For now, the number of recycling trailers in Portland will remain the same.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Funding available
If all goes well, The Portland Foundation will be able to receive half a million dollars in matching grant funds.
NEWS
FRLS forecast grows stronger
FORT RECOVERY — A financial outlook that was already strong has gotten even better.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Council agrees to pay on bond
The regional sewer district will get some help — long-term.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Positive steps
REDKEY — The last 10 years have been good, and more good news is on the horizon.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Dunkirk to look for budget cuts
DUNKIRK — City council would like to take another look at its 2019 budget.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Two seek seat in D3
Republicans have received at least 62 percent of the vote in Indiana’s third U.S. Congressional district in four straight elections.
NEWS
Three for 33
Greg Beumer decided in the spring that he would not run for re-election to a third full term. Now a lawyer, a mayor and a farmer are vying to fill his seat.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Schools, teachers reach a contract
Teachers in Jay Schools will be getting a 2-percent raise.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
JCDC reviews 5-year strategic outlook
After about a year and a half of work, a plan is in place.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Discussing issues
Those who attended Tuesday's Meet the Candidates Night got their money's worth.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Petition on wind facility is dismissed
A petition seeking to block the construction of a proposed wind farm has been dismissed.
ELECTION
Ballot features school board, commish
Election day isn’t until November, but local voters will soon be able to start making their selections.
NEWS
Council focusing on sewer bond
The county has a plan to help out residents who are dealing with sewer costs. Now officials just have to iron out the details.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
FR receives a B
FORT RECOVERY — The grades were good. There is still room for improvement.
NEWS
Abatement gains approval
A tax abatement has been approved for the construction of a second wind farm in Jay County.
NEWS
Plan presented to help sewer district
A plan is on the table to offer financial relief for customers of Jay County Regional Sewer District.
NEWS
Goodwill in gloom
Even as rain sprinkled down from a gloomy, gray sky Friday morning, a couple of school playgrounds were getting brighter.
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