Ray Cooney

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

District approved budget

Jay County Solid Waste Management District sailed through its budgeting process.

RAYS OF INSIGHT

Pitchers went the distance

Baseball, baseball, baseball.

JAY COUNTY

JC tops Delta

The Patriots went from their hottest-shooting half of the year to the worst. They still managed to come away with an eighth straight victory.

SPORTS

Jay improves in doubleheader

Both of the Patriots’ matches finished with 5-0 scores. One was a win, the other a loss. They were happy about their performance in both.

JAY COUNTY

Heading to state

FORT WAYNE — As the referee raised his arm, Eric Hemmelgarn showed almost no reaction. Eight minutes of wrestling had left him exhausted.

JAY COUNTY

Hot at Home(stead)

FORT WAYNE — The Patriots improved in the final three quarters after a slow start. It wasn’t enough for them to overcome the hot-shooting home team.

SPORTS

Primetime Eme

Through the years, Eme Miller has been in the stands watching family and friends swim in the state finals. Friday will be her day.

SPORTS

Jay rolls on road

MARION — Going on the road for the first time in three weeks proved to be no problem for the Patriots.

SPORTS

Miller makes state

As Eme Miller made the final turn her mom, Michele, couldn’t hold back her smile.

SPORTS

Trojans trample Jay

In just over two minutes, the Trojans showed why they are undefeated.

SPORTS

Murphy signs to throw at Dayton

Maria Murphy has made a career out of sending the discus and shot put flying through the air. Next year, she’ll be a Flyer herself.

JAY COUNTY

Jay spoils Tigers' mood

YORKTOWN — Yorktown honored its volleyball state championship team Saturday with a ring presentation ceremony at halftime. The Patriots did their best to kill the Tigers’ mood.

SPORTS

Super rematch

Manning vs. Brady. New York vs. New England. Cooney vs. Garbacz?

JAY COUNTY

Senior night struggle

Jay County was hoping to end its home schedule with a Senior Night win to give it some momentum with tournament play just a week away. Instead, the Patriots are in the midst of their longest losing streak in five seasons.

SPORTS

Fort holds off Rangers

NEW KNOXVILLE, Ohio — The last time the Indians visited The Barn, they needed a 30-point effort from Greg Kahlig on the night he broke the school scoring record to eke out a win.

SCHOOLS

King Kameron

Kameron Woodbury’s words were few.

JAY COUNTY

Hemmelgarn wins title

The last time Eric Hemmelgarn faced Kyle Short at home, at the East Central Indiana Classic in December, he lost 8-0. A lot has changed since then.

SPORTS

JCHS shuts down Bruins

The Patriot student section’s theme Saturday was “Silent Night.”

SPORTS

Talent can take time to develop

Past performance is not an indicator of future results.

SPORTS

Miscues bedevil JC

RICHMOND — The Patriots shot better from the field, grabbed more rebounds and blocked more shots. Thanks to turnovers, none of that mattered.

SPORTS

Dogged defense

The Patriots were already the best defensive team in the state.

SPORTS

JC shuts out Delta

One down, three to go.

JAY COUNTY

JCHS ties mark

Prior to the 2010-11 season, Matt Slavik told his team he felt it was the best group he had coached at JCHS.

SPORTS

Devils beat JC

The loss to the Devils was in the details.

SPORTS

Nightmare ending

There was plenty of magic for the Patriots during the first half of their holiday-themed homecoming.

SPORTS

JC boys top 'Cats

With three events remaining, the Patriots were clinging to a three-point lead. Their effort in the backstroke and breaststroke put the meet away.

SPORTS

Patriots top Marion

MARION — Katie Snyder stood underneath the uneven bars Thursday, awaiting her turn.

SPORTS

Picking rematch for Indy

Philadelphia Eagles over Pittsburgh Steelers. That was my preseason Super Bowl prediction.

SPORTS

FR state finals run leads list

For the second straight year, a Tribe tournament run topped local sports news.

JAY COUNTY

Tenth at sectional

BLUFFTON — The 10th and 11th holes snagged the Patriots again. And the 12th didn’t help either.

FORT RECOVERY

Fort edges Cavs

FORT RECOVERY — Olivia Schwieterman has been at the foul line in pressure situations before. She came through again Thursday.

JAY COUNTY

Jay tramples Tigers

Although he made the pass that eventually led to the game-winning basket, Kegan Comer didn’t have much going on the offensive end Friday. On Saturday, he more than made up for it.

JAY COUNTY

JC tops Lincoln

The Patriots posted their lowest score since the season opener. But it was still enough for a victory.

JAY COUNTY

Schwieterman beats buzzer for win

CONNERSVILLE — Offensive rebounds had been plentiful all night long.

SPORTS

Indians ready to take flight

The last time the Indians visited Trent Arena, they were playing in their biggest game of the last decade. They hope Saturday’s trip will help lead them back to that level again this year.

SPORTS

Snyder back to lead JC

After getting a taste of the state finals on vault as a freshman, Katie Snyder set her sights on an all-around state berth.

RAYS OF INSIGHT

Looking ahead to tourneys

It’s sectional time.

SPORTS

Jay splits with Jets

MONROE — In the tournament, runs are at a premium. Games are decided by inches. The Patriots got some good preparation with a pair of tight games Saturday.

JAY COUNTY

Murphy lifts JC

Tuesday’s second half left plenty for the Patriot coaching staff to lament.

SPORTS

Ludy to play in Florida

Josh Ludy finished his college career in Waco, Texas. The Philadelphia Phillies drafted him, and then sent him to play in New Jersey. Now he’s headed to Florida.

JAY COUNTY

JC senior shines

The entirety of the Jay County High School wrestling team and its coaching staff stood, yelling instructions and cheers to Matt Shrack.

SOUTH ADAMS

JC defeats Starfires

The Patriots spread the wealth against South Adams.

SPORTS

Jay rolls to 3-0

The Patriots have yet to hit their stride. Still, they are off to their third 3-0 start in the last four seasons.

SPORTS

JCHS runs past Jets

The Patriots played well enough to earn a comfortable win.

SPORTS

Problems fall on the players

One and done?That’s what’s facing the Indiana Pacers.

SPORTS

Hoosiers have six Ws over No. 1

The holiday season has been a bit slow in terms of sports questions.

JAY COUNTY

Jay wins ECIC crown

James Myers has coached state qualifiers four times. He was one of two state medalists on the Patriots’ 1997 team. But Jay County had not won its own tournament for more than two decades.

RAYS OF INSIGHT

Wishing for inspiring moments

Each year my parents, sisters, brother and I make a Christmas list so everyone else has some idea of what to purchase and put under the tree.

SPORTS

Fort has rough 1st

FORT RECOVERY — In their first two games, the Indians got record rushing efforts from Mason Evers. In abbreviated action Friday night, it was the Rockets who dominated on the ground.

SPORTS

Kahlig leads Findlay

The University of Findlay men’s basketball team picked up its third straight win with a former Indian leading the way.
PORTLAND WEATHER

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