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As April 15 approaches, the stress level is rising as many people are crunched for time and money while feeling the pressure of the tax deadline. People should be reminded that because the date does fall on a Saturday this year, the actual deadline to have your taxes postmarked is Monday, April 17.

Area tax professionals say that there is still plenty of time to make an appointment for tax assistance, and most places do take walk-ins.

The Internal Revenue Service has a website that offers tips and frequently asked questions about filing late taxes. Go to www.irs.gov for more information.

Although the pressure of taxes is a burden, it definitely isn't anything new. The history of taxes in the United States is an interesting and complicated lesson in American history. Following is a timeline of one of our country's longest-standing traditions:

´ 1765„ England's need for revenues to pay for its wars against France led it to impose a series of taxes on the American colonies. The English Parliament passed the Stamp Act, which was the first tax imposed directly on the American colonies, and then Parliament imposed a tax on tea.

´ 1790's„ To pay the debts of the Revolutionary War, Congress levied excise taxes on distilled spirits, tobacco and snuff, refined sugar, carriages, property sold at auctions and various legal documents.

´ Late 1790's„ During the confrontation with France, the Federal Government imposed the first direct taxes on the owners of houses, land, slaves and estates.

´ 1812„ To raise money for the war (of 1812) Congress imposed additional excise taxes, raised certain customs duties and raised money by issuing Treasury notes.

´ 1817„ Congress repealed those taxes and for the next 44 years, the Federal Government collected no internal revenue.

´ 1861„ Civil War erupted, Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1861, which restored earlier excises taxes and imposed a tax on personal incomes. The income tax was levied at three percent on all incomes higher than $800 a year.

´ 1868„ The main source of Government revenue was derived from liquor and tobacco taxes.

´ 1872„ The income tax was abolished.

´ 1913„ Congress passed a new income tax law with rates beginning at one percent and rising to seven percent for taxpayers with income in excess of $500,000. Less than one percent of the population paid income tax. Form 1040 was introduced as the standard tax reporting form.

´ 1916 - 1918„ The entry of the United States into WWI greatly increased the need for revenue. Congress responded by passing revenue acts to raise taxes each year.

´ 1932 „ In the midst of the Great Depression, the Federal Government collected only $1.9 billion, compared to $6.6 billion in 1920. Congress dramatically raises taxes by passing the Tax Act of 1932.

´ 1935 „ Social Security Act introduced, providing payments known as "unemployment compensation" to workers who lost their jobs.

´ 1945 „ WWII. Federal taxes had grown from 7.6 percent in 1941 to 20.4 percent. The number of income tax payers jumped from 4 million in 1939 to 43 million.

´ 1953 „ The Bureau of Internal Revenue was renamed the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and by 1959 had become the world's largest accounting, collection and forms-processing organization.

´ 1979 „ Rising inflation rates reached 13.3 percent.

´ 1981 „ Economic Recovery Act featured a 25 percent reduction in individual tax brackets. The act represented a fundamental shift in the course of federal income tax policy.

´ 1986 „ TaxReform Act brough top statutory tax rate down from 50 percent to 28 percent and the corporate tax rate was reduced from 50 percent to 35 percent.

´ 2001 „ President George W. Bush introduced the Economic Growth and Tax Relief and Reconciliation Act to regain some of the ground lost in the 1990's in terms of lower marginal tax rates.

Information from the United State Department of Treasury website.

For Real

Fourth annual Reality Check an eye-opener for graduating seniors

The fourth annual Reality Check was again quite a success as a total of 155 high school seniors from Prairie du Chien, Seneca and Wauzeka took part in the event at the National Guard Armory Thursday.

"They learned a lot and most were surprised at how fast their money went," said Brenda Moses, a Prairie du Chien teacher. "They were surprised at how many checks they would write in a month. It was very eye-opening."

There were 110 students from Prairie, 24 from Seneca and 19 from Wauzeka who participated in the event, during which each student has to visit booths occupied by area business people and merchants. The students each have a budget based upon their chosen "profession" and they must visit each booth to "buy" necessities such as housing, electricity and food, as well as nonnecessities. The students cannot leave the building until they have visited every booth and have a budget with a positive balance of $200 or less left.

In addition, there is a nurse and a police officer who randomly select students to tell them, for instance, that their "child" needs braces or they have just gotten a speeding ticket, which they need to pay. Each student also must visit the "Fate Booth" twice, where their fate may be good, such as receiving a $20 birthday gift from their grandmother, or bad, such as their car broke down and needs to be repaired.

The Reality Check is designed to simulate real life living experiences for the students and Moses said that it always goes over quite well. "We always get numerous positive responses from the students, staff, community and business people," she said. "It's very real life."

Moses noted that Reality Check shows graduating students how much education they would need for their chosen profession, how much that education would cost, what income they would have, what expenses, investments, etc.

At Prairie du Chien High School, Moses is one member of a team of teachers who prepare the students for the Reality Check event by teaching them about finances, check writing, choosing a career path and other skills.

The Reality Check in Prairie du Chien was influenced by a longer-standing similar event in La Crosse, and in turn, after four very successful years, the Prairie du Chien event is influencing other schools to start their own such program.

"It's something that is really catching on," said Moses, who noted that Platteville High School and representatives of a few Iowa high schools were on hand to check out the Prairie du Chien event. Also, an event called "Get Real" was held for the first time this year at Richland Center High School. Get Real was attended by seniors from Richland Center, Boscobel and Riverdale.

Although music played over the loudspeaker system, it was the jingle of spurs and the rustle of skirts and petticoats that played upon the ears of visitor to the weekend Trader's Jubilee. The annual trade fair and celebration put on by Jim and Linda Boeke of River Junction Trading Company celebrated its 18th year this spring. The Boeke's McGregor storefront has been selling 19th century reproduction clothing and goods for about 20 years, and is part of a community of historic reenactment enthusiasts.

The event has grown over the years, and includes a trading fair for historic and reenactment goods and a foot-stompin' party. This year it brought 110 tables of wares and a party for 350 revelers to the Boeke's new McGregor Landing Banquet Center. The trading fair was held at Scenic Ridge View Dance Barn on highway 76 north of Marquette. The goods offered at the trading fair included antique and reproduction guns and shooting supplies, reproduction clothing for men and ladies, hats, leather goods, and cowboy gear such as fringed chaps, decorative spur straps and more. Booths were open on Saturday and Sunday. Hundreds of cars crowded the parking lot.

This is the first time McGregor Landing has hosted the Jubilee. Part of the Boeke's purpose for refurbishing the property across from Triangle Park is to host the event, which draws hundreds from around the Midwest, and some from as far away as New York and California. The interior of the banquet center is not yet complete, but two large rooms were painted and tables set up for dining and card games. The third room, stacked with construction supplies, still served to host some of the overflow from the party and acted as an impromptu old-time portrait studio. The lively party included dinner catered by Famous Dave's Barbecue, square dancing with live music and a caller, a performance by a can-can girl chorus line, and tables set up for poker playing. Everyone attending was dressed in historic costume.

Visitors to the Trader's Jubilee include historic shooting enthusiasts, historic re-enactors and just plain actors. Brock and Karen Rawlins of Springfield Illinois came up for their first visit from Springfield, Mo. They portray Wild Bill Hickock and Mattie Silks for a western entertainment group called Abe's Marauders. It's a hobby that has turned into a job. "I don't know how we do it, but we make a living somehow," said Brock.