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.
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TORNADO HITS
A tornado ripped across northeast Jay County and into Mercer County near Fort Recovery late Friday afternoon, leaving a swath of destruction in its wake.
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Shauver starts her new role on Monday
The county has been without a director of community development for seven months. That drought will end next week.
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Extension underway
Construction is underway on the first phase of Portland Municipal Airport’s runway extension project.
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COVID numbers continue to be low
Jay County was already in the midst of its longest stretch of low coronavirus numbers since last summer. This week, the state joined in.
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Celebrating 100
The American Legion celebrated its 100th birthday in 2019. Portland’s Post 211 had planned to celebrate its century of existence a year later.
NEWS
Arachnid experiment
Lisa Wood has been teaching the lesson about conducting ethical experiments and producing valid results for a decade.
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New COVID-19 cases have been low
County has recorded two or fewer for 18 straight days; rating level remains ‘blue’
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Updated Inn
It took longer than had been expected. But a Portland hotel unveiled its new look Friday.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Portland council updated utility reserves
Study shows strong funds, possible need for future increase
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Change of plea set for Markle
A change of plea hearing has been set for a Portland man who faces criminal charges in connection to his son’s death.
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Condominiums proposed
A Geneva developer is hoping to bring new housing to property west of Portland near Jay County High School.
NEWS
Jay returns to ‘blue’ coronavirus rating
After a COVID-19 spike in early May, the county returned to the lowest risk rating this week.
NEWS
Extension enthusiasm
Rain will hold off the start of construction for a few days, but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for Portland Municipal Airport’s runway extension.
NEWS
Parks donate
Portland Park Board donated some unused equipment to another Jay County community.
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Funding OK’d, position is filled
It was a busy day in development Tuesday.
NEWS
All lit up
A dreary Friday was marked by rain, wind and cold. By late in the evening, though, the light came shining through.
RAYS OF INSIGHT
Unexpected make sports special
It's been a while since I made a point to sit down and watch golf. That changed Sunday.
NEWS
County moves back to yellow
Jay County has dropped back to the second-lowest rating in the state’s coronavirus risk metrics.
SPORTS
Two to state
INDIANAPOLIS — Elisa Parazzi missed on her first attempt at three heights in a row. Kinsey Shannon was slower out of the blocks than she would have liked. At the regional level, misses and milliseconds can be season-ending. For the pair of Patriots, they served simply as motivation to make sure they would see another week.
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Jay is ranked seventh lowest
Local unemployment had already returned to pre-pandemic levels. Now Jay County has one of the lowest rates in the state.
NEWS
Airport projects approved
Runway extension work is slated to begin June 1. There will be some taxiway, hangar and striping improvements to go along with it.
NEWS
Jay remains orange in state COVID-19 metrics
The number of new cases of COVID-19 has come down since a spike during the first half of the month, but the positivity rate continued to rise.
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Elite, repeat
MUNCIE — Elisa Parazzi somersaulted, threw her arms in the air and ran to celebrate with her teammates. Kinsey Shannon looked questioningly at her coach while bending over, hands on knees, to catch her breath. The reactions were different, the results the same. Both had won sectional championships.
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Homan named POY
Brenna Homan anchored the Indian offense from the top of the order.
NEWS
Staff to get extra-duty stipend
School staffers who were forced into extra work during the coronavirus pandemic will receive compensation.
NEWS
FCC tax abatement approved
One business will get tax abatement. Another request will be reviewed. And the way has been cleared for a local business to make the move to its new headquarters.
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Final stages
Arts Place renovation and expansion work is expected to be completed by the end of June
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FAA funding
It’s official, the city’s cost for construction of its runway extension will be zero.
NEWS
Jay back to orange
Two weeks ago, Jay County was at the lowest risk level for the spread of coronavirus.
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Back in the ‘Game’
After “Les Misérables” one year and a cancellation because of COVID-19 the next, it was time to have a little fun.
NEWS
Honoring Jay County’s own
Indiana’s Run for the Fallen will return to its full form this year, concluding its first day in Portland.
FORT RECOVERY
FR earns second chance
FORT RECOVERY — The Indians hit the ball well in their first trip through the order, but ended up with nothing to show for it.
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Franchise family
After decades in Little Rock, Arkansas, and St. Louis, Dean DiMichele has returned to Indiana.
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Building sale contract terminated
Goodhew exercises option because of environmental complications
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Trending up
The county’s COVID-19 numbers are trending in the wrong direction.
NEWS
Back to the stage
A local group is looking to provide some harmonious, and sometimes hilarious, entertainment for Mother’s Day weekend.
NEWS
Former Dunkirk mayor dies at age 77
Grant Fager, former mayor, council member and firefighter, died Monday.
NEWS
FCC plans to add again
One local industry is ready to grow again and many will be working with Jay County High School to offer opportunities to soon-to-be-graduates.
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September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.