On October 28, 2026, The Review’s Morgan Ahart reported that students from the Salem, Crestview, Columbiana, Lisbon and Wellsville school districts gathered at Salem High School for a financial literacy presentation by Dale Alexander, a certified financial planner and author of “‘the Talk’ (about money),” and every student went home with a free copy of the book. The session covered saving and giving, different kinds of investments, why starting young matters, and how to begin investing even with a small amount. Alexander argued that building these habits now, while the dollars are small, means they’ll already be second nature once students manage their own income. He described the principles as rules “the wealthy know and we’re never taught.”
The Salem Community Foundation’s Howard E. and Eleanor A. Jesko Memorial Fund covered the presentation and the books. The fund supports motivational speakers for high school students, and Principal Todd McLaughlin thanked the Jesko family for its generosity. Family members who attended praised the event, with Jane Jesko Heaven noting that it showed kids they can invest and succeed whatever their background. She also said the idea of bringing Alexander in had come from a high school senior who suggested it to his principal.