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

Renovation on track at FRHS

FORT RECOVERY — If everything continues to go as planned, distractions during the school year from a $3.4-million renovation project at Fort Recovery High School will be kept at a minimum.

NEWS

Quotes next step for FR boosters

FORT RECOVERY — The money is the key.

RAYS OF INSIGHT

IU has bigger trophies in sight

Awards are always great.

SPORTS

Faithfully on the field

Eldon Morrical shuffled to his left, snagged a hard hit ground ball and tossed it to Randy Heston at first base for the out.

SCHOOLS

Jay shows strides on ISTEP+

The results are even better than expected.

SPORTS

U.S. will win the gold

The Jay County community must be focused on the fair this week, because questions for the monthly column were slim.

SPORTS

Practice brings optimism, questions

This week is exciting.

SPORTS

Line is unsettled

ANDERSON — The NFL player with local ties once again finds himself fighting for a place in the starting lineup.

SPORTS

Failure to launch

The Rockets walked the first two batters, giving up a run in the opening inning without allowing a hit. They dropped a fly ball in the second inning, and a had a runner get picked off of first base in the third.

SPORTS

Test skills against The CR

You can’t beat me.

RAYS OF INSIGHT

Don't worry about Luck

Whenever I tell someone I made a trip to Indianapolis Colts training camp last week, I always get asked a version of the same question.

JAY COUNTY

One group, one goal

Jay County High School has never had a freshman compete on the varsity squad at the state fair. That will change Saturday.

JAY COUNTY

JC tees off Tuesday

While the rest of the Jay County High School fall sports teams were opening practice today, Butch Gray was working on putting together a starting lineup. With just four returning players and three days of practice before the opening event, that task is somewhat of a challenge.

JAY COUNTY

Jay County takes state fair title

INDIANAPOLIS — The student section at Patriot boys basketball games has made a habit of pointing at its cheerleaders and chanting, “Ours are better” to the opposing fans. The girls continue to prove their supporters right.

SPORTS

Patriots play A+ opener

It’s why they play the games, and why making predictions is often an exercise in futility.

PORTLAND ROCKETS

DREAM MISSION

For more than five decades, Dick Runkle, Ray Miller, Randy Miller and generations of their players have kept the dream alive.

JAY COUNTY

Encouraging opener

It’s hard to be happy after a loss.

SPORTS

Patriots go 1-2

The young Patriots aren’t quite where they would like to be. But they’re making strides.

SPORTS

Trojans thrash JC

The second home game of the season for the Patriots stood in stark contrast to the first.

JAY COUNTY

Fresh legs

As the race begins, Abigail Johnson runs out to lead the Patriots. Megan Wellman and Emi Minnich flank her, running just a shade behind their most experienced teammate. They run there like it’s where they belong, and as if that should come as no surprise.

SPORTS

Anna tops Tribe

FORT RECOVERY — Kylie Huelsman wants her team to battle every opponent, and do the little things that make the difference between winning and losing close matches.

FORT RECOVERY

Strong at Celina

CELINA, Ohio — The Patriots and Indians enjoyed their day at the lake.

SPORTS

Devils defeat JC

The Patriots played their first home match of the season Thursday. But it was the visiting Red Devils who seemed more comfortable.

SPORTS

PATRIOT POWER

HARTFORD CITY — Zach Metcalf averaged better than 9 yards per carry. And he was the Patriots’ No. 3 rusher.

JAY COUNTY

Falcons defeat Jay

In their first home match, the Patriots did not play up to their capabilities. On Tuesday, they made sure that didn’t happen again.

SPORTS

JC sweeps past Archers

For stretches, the Patriots looked great. And then there were times when they struggled.

JAY COUNTY

Speedy sophomore

There were no questions about speed on the offensive end.

SOUTH ADAMS

Patriots top SA

Communication was the key.

SPORTS

Boston infielder achieved the feat

I expected to have a lot of questions rolling in this month with college and pro football seasons just around the corner. But that was not the case.

FAMILY

Trouble outweighed by love

My Grandma Cooney passed away Tuesday.

SPORTS

Cardinal achievement

MUNCIE — The Cardinal coaching staff was looking for players to show them they wanted to be a part of the team.

SPORTS

Health key for Super choice

It’s prediction time.

JAY COUNTY

Patriots blast MC

The Patriots made some mistakes in their opening game. Even so, it was over in a hurry. And they improved their play in the next two games.

SPORTS

Jay shuts out Golden Eagles

The Patriots suffered a shutout loss Tuesday to undefeated New Castle. Two days later, they paid it forward to Oak Hill.

JAY COUNTY

Tricked out

Wapahani’s Brandon Williams has averaged a hat trick in his team’s wins this year. It looked as if he might be headed for another Tuesday, but Colton McCombs had other ideas.

SPORTS

Fort falls short of state berth

TIFFIN, Ohio  — Heartbreaking. The battle for the final state berth was so close that Indian runners, coaches and parents had to wait about a half hour after the race to learn their fate.

SPORTS

Bears move up to No. 3

Chicago Bears move up another spot in The CR top 10 after topping Detroit on Monday night.

SPORTS

Determined win

COLDWATER, Ohio — Cassidy Rammel’s serve caught the top of the net. The ball crept over and, before any Wildcat was able to react, fell to the floor.

SPORTS

Patriots fall in semifinal

FORT WAYNE — Early deficits in each of the first two games were too much for the Patriots to overcome.

JAY COUNTY

Senior-less JC opens Tuesday

Teams often rely on senior leadership. The Patriots don’t have any.

SOUTH ADAMS

'D' is the key

Defense, defense, defense.

RAYS OF INSIGHT

Patriots primed for big winter

The winter season should be a lot of fun for Jay County.

JAY COUNTY

Jay Co. has big goals

It’s said that anything is possible. That’s true. But realistic is a different story.

SPORTS

Colts drop out of top 10

The Indianapolis Colts dropped out of CR sports editor Ray Cooney's top 10 NFL rankings after loss to New England.

SOUTH ADAMS

Record opening win

OSSIAN — Before competing at the state meet during her senior season, Cori Vormohr talked about what it felt like to have her name plastered all over the Jay County High School record board.

SPORTS

JC wants more state success

It’s hard to imagine Jay County generating any more excitement at the state finals than Eric Hemmelgarn stirred up last season. But with Kyle Garringer and Hemmelgarn back to lead the Patriots, another big day at Bankers Life Fieldhouse is well within the realm of possibility.

SPORTS

Colts are in control

College basketball season is underway. The Los Angeles Lakers fired their coach after five games. And the Indianapolis Colts are in playoff position.

FAMILY

Bennett entering new phase

Having time to visit her grandchild whenever she wants. The ability to sit down and read a good book at night without falling asleep. Being ready for Santa.

SOUTH ADAMS

Farlow to lead Starfires

There won’t be a lot of Starfires in the pool. But Janelle Gresla has some quality swimmers.

JAY COUNTY

Patriots dominant vs. AC

There was no danger of the Patriots suffering their first defeat. They had enough points to win the meet in the first four events.
PORTLAND WEATHER

Events

November

SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
26 27 28 29 30 31 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 1 2 3 4 5 6

To Submit an Event Sign in first

Today's Events

No calendar events have been scheduled for today.

250 X 250 AD