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.
NEWS
United Way seeks heroes
Captain J has traded in his yellow cape for a red one. But his message remains the same …
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Constantly improving
FORT RECOVERY — Schools are good and striving to be even better.
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Plan approved
REDKEY — A downtown revitalization plan is in place.
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Funding approved
BERNE — The Starfire baseball facility is going to get another upgrade.
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Finishing touches
BERNE — Starfire high school students had about half of a new facility a year ago. As they prepare to start a new year Tuesday, the transformation is nearly done.
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Renovation ready
Roast beef sandwiches, curly fries and mozzarella sticks will be available again Monday.
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Still working
East Elementary School has walls. Classroom doors are a different story.
NEWS
Personnel committee recommends raises
The county’s personnel committee is hoping to take another step toward balancing salaries.
NEWS
JCDC job description gets tweak
There's an updated job description for the executive director of Jay County Development Corporation. But it wasn't adopted without some discussion and dissenting votes.
SCHOOLS
SA school budget for 2019 $16.5 million
BERNE — South Adams plans to advertise a 2019 budget slightly lower than it did for the current year.
NEWS
Third in a row
INDIANAPOLIS — For the third consecutive year, the Marching Patriots posted the best score in school history.
NEWS
Relative experience
Kelly Smeltzer can’t remember a drum major who led the Marching Patriots for three years. He can’t remember ever having siblings who conducted together either.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Appeal denied
A sewer rate increase will go into effect Wednesday, but county officials still want to work to provide some financial relief to those involved.
NEWS
Committee will look at budget
Jay County Solid Waste Management District will take more time to look at its 2019 budget.
NEWS
Buildings assessed
The Valentine's Day school shooting in Parkland, Florida, sparked a Jay School Corporation effort to improve school security.
NEWS
IU Health Jay creates police force
Jay County Hospital’s integration with IU Health has brought significant changes.
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Council discusses sewer, budget, SRO
Decisions about the regional sewer district, budget and a full-time school resource officer are coming in the next few months.
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FRLS balance is up
FORT RECOVERY — As expected, school finances finished the fiscal year in excellent shape.
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Basford, Muhlenkamp win showmanship titles
One competitor was making her third run at the supreme showmanship title. Another was trying for the first time. In both cases, practice made the difference.
NEWS
Troy’s Overla hired as FRHS principal
FORT RECOVERY — A successor is in place to lead the Indians.
NEWS
Fan favorite joins the court
Attendees are used to seeing the Miss Jay County Fair Queen Pageant winner around the fairgrounds this week — at the various 4-H shows, hanging out along the midway and enjoying the entertainment at the grandstand.
SPORTS
Chasing after his legacy
Casey Kenney had his heart set on the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
NEWS
Board to look at ways to cut budget
Jay County Solid Waste Management District's board will take a closer look at its budget for potential cuts.
NEWS
Wind farm OK’d
Plans for a second wind farm in Jay County can move forward. But it was recommended that any other potential wind energy projects be banned for a period of three years.
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‘You never know’
Daniel Johnson started noticing problems in 2014.
NEWS
Jay unemployment is 3.2 percent
Unemployment ticked up a bit last month, but remains well below the 4-percent mark.
NEWS
Park, street work is ongoing
FORT RECOVERY — With summer heat comes construction.
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America’s run
When Run for the Fallen has arrived in Portland in years past, it has been to close out the opening day of a three-day tribute.
NEWS
Council discusses SRO
Jay County’s personnel committee would like to help financially with the hiring of a full-time school resource officer.
NEWS
SAHS project is on schedule
BERNE — The second phase of the South Adams High School renovation project is on track.
NEWS
Preliminary plan in place
A preliminary five-year strategic plan for Jay County Development Corporation is now in place.
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Semi-state bound
DECATUR — Hours earlier, Ryan Schlechty had induced a ground ball to secure a five-run victory.
NEWS
District expands recycling promotions
Jay County Solid Waste Management District is continuing to make efforts to reach out to the community in order to encourage recycling.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
SA goes back-to-back
MONROE — Twice the Tigers had loaded the bases. Twice, Grant Besser had gotten out of the jams unscathed.
NEWS
Brewing up a dream
Ryan and Kelly Johnson are well aware of the local restaurant void that has been discussed in local circles and on social media. They’re in the process of trying to help fill it.
SCHOOLS
Overman leaving as FRHS principal
FORT RECOVERY — Marcus Overman grew up in New Bremen. He graduated from New Bremen High School. He lives in New Bremen. So when the New Bremen High School principal job came open, it was a natural fit.
NEWS
Hyatt to lead Jay, Blackford
Less than three months ago, Dave Hyatt took on a new title as he became president of IU Health Jay.
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Insurance costs expected to dip
FORT RECOVERY — The administration and school board are continuing to look at decisions to keep Fort Recovery Local Schools in a strong financial position.
SPORTS
Patriots sweep doubleheader
The Patriots had double-digit leads in both games. They won the first one the easy way. The second came the hard way.
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'Squeeze' salvages split
The Patriots gave away any chance they had at a game-one win.
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So far, so good
It’s been two months. There have been some hiccups, but the overall view from the IU Health Jay leadership is that the process has gone better than expected.
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