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
Jay's rate is 5.2
Unemployment ticked up in December, marking the third straight month in which the rate has increased.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Portland progressing
Portland has made progress, but there is still work to do.
SPORTS
Patriots stumble in fourth
For three quarters, the Patriots were able to overcome their turnovers. In the fourth, the miscues caught up with them.
NEWS
Trailer cost could increase
The cost for Saturday recycling trailers in Jay County may see a major increase.
SPORTS
Debate continues on verge of Super Bowl
It’s five days away. The Super Bowl is right around the corner.
JAY COUNTY
Jay girls shatter records
Favored by 18 seconds, the Patriots simply needed to swim a clean final race to win and secure the inaugural Allen County Athletic Conference title.
JAY COUNTY
Patriot girls roll to 16th win
It would seem holding a team scoreless for a quarter would be a rarity.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Sports brief: JCHS girls top Raiders
The Jay County High School girls basketball team used its signature stifling defense and efficient offense to roll to a 47-22 victory Saturday over the visiting Southern Wells Raiders.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Breaking: Jay girls win ACAC title
The host Jay County High School girls swim team won the inaugural Allen County Athletic Conference championship Saturday, scoring 437 points to outdistance South Adams by 24.
SOUTH ADAMS
Schindler wins ACAC diving
The Starfire girls earned the first individual conference title Friday while a Patriot trio built a double-digit lead in the race for the team crown. Meanwhile, the boys diving competition set the stage for Saturday’s battle.
NEWS
Local business quilt squares sought for project
Preparations at the state level have long been underway for Indiana’s bicentennial celebration. Jay County Visitor and Tourism Bureau is seeking to get local businesses involved in the process.
SPORTS
Gymnasts cruise to victory
The win streak continued Thursday for the Patriots. But they’re not happy with where their scores have been this week.
SPORTS
Sports brief: JC gymnasts cruise
The Jay County High School gymnastics team easily extended its winning streak Thursday as it swept the top three places on every event and totaled 99.475 points.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Hangar paths to be widened
Officials are still waiting to hear whether Portland Municipal Airport has been approved for a runway extension. In the meantime, the facility will widen a pair of driveways to allow better use of two T-hangars.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Please come to a complete stop
Portland drivers may have noticed changes at some intersections over the last few weeks.
RAYS OF INSIGHT
Answers were tough to find
If only there was an Elias Sports Bureau for Patriot athletics.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Mace molding
Six-year-old Lucy Mace forms a mound of snow Friday afternoon will playing with her cousins Zander Hudson, 9, and Zavier Hudson, 6, in her grandparents’ yard at 1186 North 500 West, in Jay County. (The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney)
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Winter warm-up
A group of horses enjoys the sunny winter afternoon Thursday in a field on the north side of Fort Recovery-Minster Road near the intersection with Flaler Road and Ohio 119. Temperatures were in the upper 20s and low 30s Thursday after hovering in single digits for most of the previous week. (The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney)
SPORTS
Tumblers win opener
Between rotations Thursday, the host Patriots engaged in some nervous chatter. They weren’t looking forward to their time on the balance beam and the falls they assumed would accompany their routines.
SCHOOLS
Fort Recovery moves up bus purchase
FORT RECOVERY — The purchase of a new bus was moved up as a cost-saving measure.
SPORTS
Title game spawns diary of thoughts
It’s not every day one of my teams plays in a championship game.
NEWS
Education rules
State legislators have said 2015 will be the education session. That held true Saturday.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Battling blight
DUNKIRK — This community has been chipping away at its issue with blighted properties. Now, with the help of a state grant, it will swing a giant wrecking ball at the problem.
NEWS
Portland projects
Portland’s parks and most of its streets are covered with snow. By this summer they’ll be the focus of three major construction projects.
NEWS
Council approves tax abatements
Portland City Council made it official, granting two tax abatements that will bring Berne Ready Mix to its business community.
NEWS
Chamber seeks better connection
Jay County Chamber of Commerce launched a new website late in 2014 with hopes of being more user friendly and making a greater connection with the community.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Members thank Miller for service
Although he was unable to attend his last meeting, members of the Jay County Solid Waste Management District Board thanked their outgoing member.
SPORTS
Season’s wish list includes athletes
Christmas is the season for giving. But each year my Christmas column is a list of things I want.
JAY COUNTY
Former Patriot wins professional debut
MESA, Arizona — Amateur fighters couldn’t handle Casey Kenney. Neither could the first professional who tried to match his skills.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Chorus of children
FORT RECOVERY — Children sing biweekly at their Fort Recovery church from September through May, and have a variety of special performances throughout the year. But it’s when Christmas time nears that they really get excited.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Geesaman will run for 2nd term
As his third year in office comes to a close, Randy Geesaman is turning his sights to a second term.
NEWS
Design modified
Two weeks after a contentious, emotional meeting about plans for Portland Water Park, a modified design has been approved.
NEWS
Students helping during holidays
FORT RECOVERY — During the holiday season, Fort Recovery students are helping those in need both at home and abroad.
HOMEPAGE ROTATING ARTICLES
Breaking: Board modifies design
Portland Park Board on Tuesday approved a modified design for the proposed Portland Water Park that will allow for diving entries on both ends of the competition pool while leaving most of the facility at a 42-inch depth.
SPORTS
Guggenbiller, FR get first victory
FORT RECOVERY — The Indians came up with two offensive rebounds on their first possession before Darien Sheffer came up with a tip-in.
SCHOOLS
Board OKs delay
BERNE — Scott Litwiller has the ability to use a three-hour delay. But he only plans on implementing it in order to save a day of school.
SPORTS
Patriots seeing early success
Teams focus on reaching their peak at the end of the season. They want to be playing their best come tournament time.
SPORTS
Fort Recovery offense struggles
FORT RECOVERY — The opening weekend didn’t go the way the Indians had hoped. But improvement from their first game to their second has them feeling as if they’re headed in the right direction.
NEWS
Chamber makes changes
This year there were changes to Stars in the Park and the Jay County Food and Drink Festival. In 2015, another annual Jay County Chamber of Commerce function will see some modifications.
NEWS
Geneva council OKs Hanni work
GENEVA — Upgrades are coming for the Hanni Building and the town’s emergency warning siren.
NEWS
Request denied; JCTA to appeal
The latest decision in a contract dispute that has lasted more than a year came down in favor of Jay School Corporation, but the process is not over.
JAY COUNTY
Patriots top Bearcats in OT
Half-time adjustments, self-confidence and free-throw shooting.
NEWS
Jay rate stays below 5 percent
Area unemployment numbers went up in October. But the overall trend during the past year has been positive.
SPORTS
ACAC slate brings change
Schedules change. Every once in a while the list of opponents remains the same from one year to the next, but more often than not there are minor differences. One team departs and another takes its place.
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