A look at Lake Mead's water levels, impact

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Lake Mead is one of the main reservoirs in the vast Colorado River water system, and its receding shoreline is raising concerns about the future of a network serving the perennially parched Southwest.

Marina operators, water managers and farmers are closely tracking the reservoir's water level, which is already at its lowest point since Hoover Dam was completed and the lake was first filled in the 1930s.

As federal officials ready to release a new projection for the lake, here are a few milestones to keep in mind and their potential impact:

— 1,080 feet above sea level is Lake Mead's level this year, down almost the width of a football field from a full-capacity high of 1,225 feet in 1983. The lake is currently at 39 percent capacity.

— At 1,075 feet, water deliveries to Arizona and Nevada would be curtailed; the determination is based on projections made in January.

— At 1,000 feet, two existing Las Vegas drinking water intakes would go dry. The Southern Nevada Water Authority is drilling a so-called "third straw" to draw water from 860 feet.

— At 900 feet, hydroelectric turbine generators at Hoover Dam would be idled by lack of water pressure. Most of the electricity goes to Southern California. Nevada gets about 23 percent. Arizona gets about 19 percent.

Louis Prima

Louis Prima (December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978) was an American singer, actor, songwriter, and trumpeter. Prima rode the musical trends of his time, starting with his seven-piece New Orleans style jazz band in the 1920s, then leading a swing combo in the 1930s, a big band in the 1940s, a Vegas lounge act in the 1950s, and a pop-rock band in the 1960s.

I have seen him in Vegas over the years when on occasional visits to the city. A visit to Vegas always included seeing Prima doing his lounge ace. Sam Butera was also a bit part of his act, as was Keely Smith.

In the late 50's, maybe even the early 60's, the story we got was that he and Keely split up, he had a new singer, and he asked Bill Harrah if they could do the lounge at Harrah's in Reno, and work on their new act. He did, and for a while, almost every morning we would stop by Harrah's and see Prima, Sam and the new girl doing their thing on the small stage there. There were great shows, pretty much "impromptu", a lot of ad libbing, and a whole lot of laughter. They were as "entertaining" as any shows I saw while out there.

Prima was Las Vegas. To me, in those days, Vegas was the DI, the Desert Inn, we are talking in the 50's, remember. As I recall there was an :intimate" lounge, and we spent a lot of time there. I forget the entertainers, but they were little known "up and comers," and were giving 100% to entertain and get ahead. Really entertaining acts. I think we saw Prima here a time or two.

Everyone played the DI, then, it was Vegas. None any better though than seeing them in Rano.

Joe Conforte

In reply to an email last week, yes, I did know Joe Conforte some, through dealing to him and seeing him around town on some of his "marketing" jaunts.
He would pull up in front of the club, cordovan colored Lincoln convertible, cashmere topcoat, cigar and a large bankroll. At the Primm, we always kept his favorite cigar and liquor on the back bar, just for when he came it. He spread money around.
He presented the image, perfectly, of who he was, and what he did.
He was a back line player, jumped in and out, and he was tough to beat. He was a promoter and knew how to play and work the system, and stay one step ahead of the law.
The old Triangle Ranch, trailers, land in three counties. When one would get too hot, he would move the operation to another county. He drove the DA, Bill Raggio to distraction. Raggio finally went in one night, without proper authority, burned the place to the ground. I think he eventually went in too politics.
Apparently, Joe did everything proper. Every night, receipts, money taken in, all the proper paperwork, all on the up and up. But then, at the end of the night, he would burn them all.
When he was sent to prison in Carson City, tax evasion or something, he was immediately taken to the Blair House in Virginia City and put on a work party.
Then, in prison, in Carson City, he was involved in the casino, where he bankrolled a few games. Of course, gambling is legal in Nevada, so it was OJT for some of the inmates. But they forgot, felony conviction and you can't work in a casino.
It was always reported to be the most honest game in the state, if you got thrown out of there, you had no place else to go.
One issue of true magazine, there is Joe, cigar, alligator shoes, red alpaca knit sweater, shooting craps. But we know that was for the picture, he wouldn't shoot craps on his own table. He was also on the cover of Rolling Stones.
He did well for a cab driver from San Francisco, made millions, owned his own town in Nevada, had friends in HIGH places, owned many a politician, spread his money around. He now lives in Brazil, and our government won't let him come back for a visit.
Oprah did one of her shows at the Mustang Ranch one day, and it was so popular that they stayed and did an additional day.
They all loved Joe. I remember one mother they interviewed, loved Joe, credited him with saving her daughters life. "If Joe had not turned her in to a prostitute, I don't know where she would be today." That's the truth, she said it.
Joe got "first count," and the casinos get "first count." Joe got caught, so the IRS got him.
In a casino, you lose your money, and get nothing ...... at Joe's, you get something in return for your money.
I must admit, I liked Joe Conforte, had cofffee with him a couple of times when I was on a break, and I knew his bodyguard a bit.
They should let him come back for a visit, he probably has a few million buried somewhere, they should let him dig it up.