By Paula Scott

A recent visit to the Ada Public Library by a NOP adult day care group had an exciting itinerary: a Christmas party with food from Viva Maria as well as trivia and word games with Ada Police officer Penny Keller-Clark.

But Officer Penny also had a surprise up her sleeve: one of the group is an artist who has been creating drawings of Ada Police officers providing safety tips. What Keller-Clark revealed is that the drawings have been turned into a “Safety First” coloring book.

With the assistance of ONU professor Melissa Eddings-Mancuso and students Allayna Reiff and Jay Meyers, Dunlap’s drawings have been turned into a 22-page coloring book with tips including water safety, what to do if someone makes you feel scared, knowing your address and phone number, and the importance of paying attention to traffic signs and signals. 

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The book also has activities such as dot-to-dot drawings and word searches.

Keller-Clark told the Icon that the project developed over time after she crossed paths with the group at the Ada War Memorial Park and then discovered Dunlap's love for drawing. Keller-Clark and Ada library director Rhett Grant now meet regularly with the group.

The project was sponsored by the Ada Police Department, Ohio Northern University, NOP and the Ada Public Library.