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.
ENTERTAINMENT
Redheads preparing for 1st album
April and Brett Walker have never shied away from adventure.
NEWS
Jay, FR to meet in 2014
The Patriots and Indians have battled on the court, field, course, track and in the pool. In 2014, they will take the fight to the gridiron.
SCHOOLS
Ford set to retire
Less than 12 hours after saying he wouldn’t confirm reports of his impending retirement, Phil Ford decided to make it official.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Next phase set to begin
Paving work is nearing completion on some streets as crews prepare to start sewer work on others.
JAY COUNTY
Patriots miss chance in loss
After an unearned run broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning, coach Lea Selvey gathered his players.
SPORTS
Make the most of opportunities
Always be ready.That’s a lesson to be learned from Monday’s 2-1 win by the United States over Ghana in its opening game of the World Cup.
NEWS
Santa brings smiles at walk
There was a survivor’s dinner, games for children, a balloon launch and the lighting of luminaries. And Santa.
NEWS
Rate rises to 5.1 percent
Jay County posted its lowest unemployment rate in six years in March, and then surpassed that mark again in April. The number went up in May, but remained at less than 5.5 percent for the third straight month.
RAYS OF INSIGHT
Myers not a typical coach
James Myers was not the stereotypical wrestling coach. And that’s a good thing.
SPORTS
Injuries cloud Patriots' season
A winless squad jogging off the field at halftime with a two-goal lead should have been full of players with smiling faces.
SCHOOLS
Board looks at future finances
FORT RECOVERY — Fort Recovery Schools will get the expected increase in funding from the state, but projections also show continued deficit spending.
SPORTS
Indians' defense strong in win
FORT RECOVERY — The Indians spent most of the first quarter backed up against their own goal line.
AGRICULTURE
Representative to speak at JCHS
Rick Deaton is excited about his work in the pork production field. But he’s hoping to get students interested in farming in any capacity when he visits Jay County next week.
NEWS
Tox Away is deemed a success
The numbers aren’t in yet, but anecdotally Tox Away Day was a rousing success.
RAYS OF INSIGHT
Defense on the rise for Colts
As always, the date on the sports calendar dictated the topics of this month’s questions.
NEWS
Budget passes 1st reading
Jay County took the next step toward passing its budget quickly and with no public comment.
NEWS
State funds to increase
FORT RECOVERY — Fort Recovery Schools ran a deficit in fiscal year 2013 for the first time in nine years, but projected numbers released by the state Tuesday have administrators excited about the future.
SPORTS
Rockets refuse to lose
Doug Tinsley strolled confidently down the first-base line as Portland prepared to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning, trailing by one.
NEWS
JCSWD will help, if needed
If Portland needs financial assistance for its curbside recycling program, the Jay County Solid Waste District is willing to chip in. Its board members just want to wait until the time comes to make that decision.
NEWS
Jay native takes budget job
Brian Bailey wasn’t interested in taking algebra as an eighth grader.
NEWS
A time to shine
Talent competition shows have been all over TV since Kelly Clarkson won the opening season of “American Idol” more than a decade ago. Now Jay County will be getting in on the act at the local level.
NEWS
Display has a personal connection
For about a quarter century, Brian Williamson has played a part in putting together the Museum of the Soldier’s Fourth of July display.
NEWS
Honoring Jim Bob
Jim Bob McEwen has traveled all over the country putting on shows with his oxen and border collies. Everywhere he goes, he promotes Jay County.
PORTLAND ROCKETS
Rocket bats explode
There was an Independence Day atmosphere in the air, with fireworks bursting beyond the left-field fence at Runkle-Miller Field. The Rockets provided plenty of explosiveness at the plate as well.
SPORTS
Garrett to leave ACAC
GARRETT — While the Patriots are preparing to join the Allen County Athletic Conference, the Railroaders are leaving.
SPORTS
FR falls in eight
FORT RECOVERY — A Jackson Hobbs single in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the freshman and his Indians the cushion they were hoping for against the two-time defending state champions.
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.
SOUTH ADAMS
ACAC keeping Raiders
In the continuing game of conference musical chairs, the Raiders will keep their seat for at least one more year.
SPORTS
Eagles out-hit Jay
The Patriots were able to overcome a two-error first inning. But they couldn’t slow down Delta’s bats enough to stick with the visiting Eagles in the final three.
JAY COUNTY
Proposal fails; Ford elected
INDIANAPOLIS — The length of junior varsity basketball games in Indiana will remain the same after a proposal by Jay County High School principal Phil Ford was voted down.
FORT RECOVERY
Patriots defeat Fort
FORT RECOVERY — With back-to-back five-inning wins, the Patriots have found their groove. The Indians are still trying to come together as a team with their tournament just 10 days away.
SPORTS
Coach hired at W-D
GASTON — After three seasons as an assistant for the Patriots, John McGlothin will lead a program again.
JAY COUNTY
Roughriders blank Jay
Zach Pryor drew a one-out walk in the third inning. Double play. Kyle Selvey walked to lead off the fourth. Double play. Chandler Jacks connected for a pinch-hit single to start the sixth. Double play.
FORT RECOVERY
Fort selects next AD
FORT RECOVERY — The Indians have selected a Coldwater graduate to lead their athletics program.
SPORTS
Jay earns first win
The beginning of the season was tough on the Patriots as they endured three straight losses. A strong day of doubles play helped them break through.
SPORTS
Jay hires Millspaugh
Tim Millspaugh has spent 10 years walking the Patriot sidelines as an assistant. Now he’s the man in charge.
SPORTS
Indians roll
ST. MARYS, Ohio — The first quarter was sloppy for both teams. But the Indians’ defense couldn’t have been any better in the second.
SPORTS
JCHS girls stay unbeaten
One of the Patriots’ leading swimmers was in Texas, preparing to swim at a national meet. Another was home sick. It didn’t matter.
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