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

Longer school days to continue

The extended school day is getting an extension.

NEWS

SA day will be extended

BERNE — South Adams students will need to wake up for school a little earlier. And they’ll be heading home a little later.

NEWS

Unemployment goes up slightly

Jay County’s unemployment rate hit a five-year low in December. Now it has gone up in back-to-back months for the first time in more than a year.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Candidates focus on experience

The candidates for Jay County Prosecutor both focus on their experience as a strength.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Early voting a week away

Election day is still a month away. But voters can begin casting their ballots next week.

NEWS

Jay fair goes Young

The grandstand at Jay County Fairgrounds was packed last year with 21-year-old Hunter Hayes on the stage. Jay County Fair Board has decided to go Young again.

SPORTS

First berth came in 1985

I guess I’ll have to keep working.

NEWS

District looking for ways to help

The Jay County Solid Waste Management District board would like to help a Dunkirk glass factory collect more recycled glass. Its members are still considering the best way to accomplish that goal.

RAYS OF INSIGHT

Jay gymnasts deserve support

The Patriots are going to state.

NEWS

Sheriff presents annual reports

The population at Jay County Jail has grown each year since its expansion. That trend continued in 2013.

NEWS

Library staying closed

Jay County Public Library will be closed through at least Monday.

NEWS

Unemployment rate at 6.1 percent

After hitting a five-year low, the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to start 2014.

EDITORIALS

Administrators deserve credit

A letter to the editor came in early this week bemoaning the absence of any administrators at a recent National Honor Society induction at Jay County High School.

SPORTS

Colts should focus on defense

Big numbers are fun.Playoff wins are better.

NEWS

A love for literacy

PENNVILLE — For the first literacy night several years ago, about 30 people showed up.

BUSINESS

El Matador to open in late March

A new Mexican restaurant plans to open in Portland by the end of the month.

SCHOOLS

State changes test rules

BERNE — A test that had been taken only by some students seeking dual credit will be expanded in an effort to identify students in need of additional help.

NEWS

Vaughn happy with survey results

FORT RECOVERY —E-Days will be used again. Fort Recovery Local Schools officials hope survey results will help streamline the process.

ENTERTAINMENT

Band focuses on Irish roots

Eric Rogers had heard nearly 10 Irish groups.

SPORTS

Luck gives fans reason to be happy

“Mr. Luck better have a lot of magic in that arm today.”

NEWS

Schools looking toward ISTEP

BERNE — South Adams Schools have delayed the start of ISTEP testing, and the extra time will be used to help students with preparation.

JAY COUNTY

Shortcoming to be positive

After feeling disappointed Friday night, Cady Farlow finished with a smile on her face Saturday.

RAYS OF INSIGHT

Coming out can lead to progress

Michael Sam is gay.That fact in and of itself isn’t much of a revelation.

SPORTS

Swimmers re-write record book

The top sectional athletes weren’t so much competing against each other as they were racing the record books.

SOUTH ADAMS

Sectional final set

Coaches like to use phrases like “every point counts.”

NEWS

City gets grant for Safe Routes

Local groups combined to seek four grants for travel safety projects.

SPORTS

Enjoy tourney action

Nothing to do?The sports calendar says otherwise.

NEWS

Windy weekend

Blowing and drifting snow caused travel problems throughout the weekend.

SPORTS

Weather is a key factor

It’s Super Bowl week.

JAY COUNTY

MISTER 300

There was a brief mention from public address announcer Barry Weaver. And there were a few congratulatory handshakes.

SPORTS

A work ethic to envy

Erin Hunt was never the star of her team.She didn’t put up gaudy point totals.She wasn’t on any all-state lists.

SPORTS

Fort upsets No. 4 Tigers

FORT RECOVERY — The Indians’ opponents make a point of trying not to let Elijah Kahlig beat them.

SCHOOLS

FR moves ahead with two projects

FORT RECOVERY — The school board hit the ground running Tuesday, making moves to set two projects in motion.

SPORTS

Smith deserves spotlight

Richard Sherman.That name has dominated the world of sports for the last 48 hours.

SPORTS

Jay Co. proves ability

Richmond is good.How good?

SCHOOLS

Closed again

The snow stopped falling late Saturday evening.

ENTERTAINMENT

Free show set for Saturday

Arts Place opened its 2014 concert season with a free performance last weekend. Admission will be free again Sunday.

NEWS

JCDC approves budgets for 2014

Before celebrating the holidays, Jay County Development Corporation’s board of directors made sure it’s budget is in order for next year.

RAYS OF INSIGHT

Wagon nearly added a member

I was just about to jump.

BUSINESS

New Pennville pizza place

Jason Suman grew up in his grandmother’s restaurant.

JAY COUNTY

Patriot loss decided by freebies

Turnovers hurt the Patriots late in the first half. And poor shooting hampered Concordia in the fourth quarter.

SPORTS

Jay-Fort football rivalry overdue

I never thought it would happen.

FORT RECOVERY

A change in guard

There’s new blood leading the athletics programs at Jay County, Fort Recovery and South Adams High Schools.

NEWS

Sanders will lead Jay Co. chamber

With Vicki Tague set to retire at the end of the year, the chamber of commerce has selected its new leader.

NEWS

A safety issue

The state senator who represents Jay County plans to sponsor a bill regarding safety in youth football, and those involved in the sport locally support his effort.

SPORTS

Proposal would benefit Patriots

It’s tournament time.Or, at least, the postseason is what several readers were interested in this week.

JAY COUNTY

Offense premium in Jay win

PARKER CITY — Jay County’s first three shots were blocked. The Golden Bears opened with two misses and a turnover.

SPORTS

A lifetime spent on the links

Moving to a new town in the eighth grade can be a difficult proposition.

BUSINESS

All blow and no show?

A year ago, the construction of a wind farm in southern Jay and northern Randolph counties seemed like a foregone conclusion.

NEWS

Board meets incoming CEO

Members of Jay County Development Corporation said goodbye to a leader of an area not-for-profit organization and met the man who will be stepping in to her position.
PORTLAND WEATHER

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