Downtown Tonganoxie now is much more presentable — and walkable — thanks to the efforts of a Tonganoxie City Council member and two young men who are employed this summer by the city.

On two recent hot mornings, council member Velda Roberts directed Jake Heskett and Aaron Adcox in the fine art of tree trimming. The trees, planted as part of a downtown revitalization effort about five years ago, had become overgrown and gangly.

About a month ago, Roberts vowed in an interview with The Mirror that she would get the trees in shape before the downtown was overrun with visitors to the Leavenworth County Fair parade, set for Aug. 10. And her word was good.

It’s great that Roberts, who also is president of the Tonganoxie Tree Board, volunteered her time to work with the two summer employees. Now, it’s possible for folks to look up and down the sidewalks along Fourth Street, without their view being obstructed by tree limbs and leaves. And pedestrians don’t have to weave and bob as they pass by trees, just so they don’t whack themselves in the head with low branches.

Now that Roberts and her youthful helpers have proven what they can do, it only stands to reason that the rest of the residents and business owners in Tonganoxie follow suit.

In just two short weeks, Tonganoxie will host the 79th annual county fair, and it’s an opportunity to show off this lovely community. So, it would be well worth it to pick up those pieces of trash in the yard, or sweep the Fourth Street sidewalks — generally clean up.

After all, isn’t that what people do when company’s coming to visit?