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
Character is key component
FORT RECOVERY — Certain aspects beyond academics have always been important in Fort Recovery classrooms. The school system’s own “about our district” web page emphasizes a family-oriented atmosphere, strong community and responsibility.
RAYS OF INSIGHT
Sports able to act as magnet
Thanksgiving is awesome. While Christmas stands atop this list as the favorite holiday for many, I’ve always been partial to the late-November holiday.
JAY COUNTY
Sticking with the game
Eric Hemmelgarn was a wrecking machine for the Jay County High School football team. He dominated on the defensive line. He lived in opponents’ backfields. The 2014 graduate spent his winters working over opponents on the wrestling mat as a three-time state medalist. Needless to say, he was used to being one of the best.
NEWS
Jay unemployment is 4.1 percent
The local unemployment picture showed slight improvement in October.
NEWS
Jay County ISTEP scores drop
ISTEP scores went down across the state in 2016. Jay County was part of that trend.
NEWS
Board has funding flexibility
Jay Schools will have more flexibility that originally expected for how it can use money saved via refinancing.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Out of range
Both teams were undefeated. Both were without key starters because of injury. Both dealt with first-half foul trouble.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
JC cheerleaders vying for Orlando trip
The Patriot cheerleaders have focused on the state fair competition for the last couple of decades, typically finishing at or near the top of the pack.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Station upgrade
REDKEY — After 111 years, the town’s volunteer firefighters will have a new home.
RAYS OF INSIGHT
Cougar commit to lead Tribe
Before one season is even completely over, another has begun.
JAY COUNTY
Defensive effort carries Jay
In season openers, often the offense isn’t quite as sharp as it could be.
NEWS
Betts rallies past Waters
There was little intrigue in the local partisan races, but the battle for one of the three opens school board seats went down to the wire.
NEWS
Nearly finished
The largest road project in Jay County in several decades is nearing completion.
SOUTH ADAMS
Starfires fall in semi-state
BREMEN — The Starfires took a massive step last season, winning their first sectional title in nearly two decades. They made another Tuesday night when they swept Whitko for their first regional title. The next one will have to wait.
SOUTH ADAMS
Wood-burned
BERNE — South Adams’ faithful waited patiently for their team to shake hands with the Warriors. Then, as the players turned toward the home sideline, the fans rushed the field.
NEWS
Choir, thespians teaming on 'Grease'
Attendance for Jay County High School’s musicals has been low for years.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Jay Co. rate is 4.4 percent
While Jay County’s unemployment rate has shown a negative trend over the past year, Adams and Wells counties are among the best in the state.
NEWS
Tox Away numbers drop
The new site for a local recycling event got rave reviews, but numbers were down significantly from 2015.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Patriots' season ends
MUNCIE — The Patriots led just once in the opening two games. They didn’t score more than two consecutive points in either.
FORT RECOVERY
Indians take title
FORT RECOVERY — The Indians won the first game, but momentum had swung.
NEWS
FR forecast shows surplus
FORT RECOVERY — A significant budget surplus is expected for local schools in 2017 before reductions in revenue lead to projected deficits in future years.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Deficit possible for 2016
Jay School Corporation may not have the financial success it had been hoping for this year.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Jay season ends at regional
MUNCIE — The Patriots knew a trip to the semi-state was probably out of the realm of possibility. Still, they entered Saturday’s regional race with personal goals in terms of time.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Remodel ready
Over the course of more than 40 years, Jay County High School has gone through a variety of changes and upgrades.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Buggy for sale
By definition, the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association is focused on gas-fueled items. But that’s not always the case.
NEWS
Two vying for school board seat
Of the Jay School Board seats up for election this year, only one has an incumbent seeking another term.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Two seek to replace Wellman
There are guaranteed to be a couple of new faces on Jay School Board in 2017, as two incumbents have chosen not to run for re-election. One of those positions involves a contested race.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Waste district hires Rhodehamel
Jay County Solid Waste Management District has a new employee.
SOUTH ADAMS
Starfires dominate ACAC
MONROE — The Starfire girls simply weren’t going to give anyone else a chance. Neither was Bailey McIntire.
SPORTS
Jay finishes with shutout
The Patriots entered Thursday’s final game of the regular season with eight wins. Some of those have been close games, some blowouts. All but one was a shutout.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
District events upcoming
Get your documents and hazardous materials ready.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Retrospect: Cheerleaders fondly recall parade
Twenty-five years ago this week, Jay County High School cheerleaders rode atop a Portland firetruck in the school’s homecoming parade, just as they will again Friday.
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