NEWPORT — Cincinnati restaurateur Jeff Ruby will open his newest restaurant, Tropicana, next week with a gala to raise money for a firefighters memorial in Northern Kentucky.

        Newport Fire Chief Larry Atwell has been appointed chairman of the Firefi ghters Monument Fund Drive in charge of creating the memorial.

        Chief Atwell said many of the details have not been worked out, but a location for the memorial has been decided: next to the World Peace Bell in Newport.

        One idea calls for a 7- to 8-foot-tall bronze statue of a firefighter carrying a small child.

        Chief Atwell believes such a monument would cost about $100,000, and ho pes the community supports the project by attending events such as Mr. Ruby's.

        “There is currently no monument to honor the firefighters of Northern Kentucky who lost their lives trying to save ours,” said Mr. Ruby.

        “I decided to utilize our grand opening as an opportunity to raise money to build a long overdue memorial for some real heroes.”

        Mr. Ruby, owner of Jeff Ruby's, The Precinct and Carlo & Johnny in Ohio, said his new place has captured the flavor of Newport's shady past.

        It is decorated with old photographs from the era and even features poker chips from the original Tropicana, one of the best-known of Newport's notorious gambling joints. It also offered music and strip shows.

        Mr. Ruby says he has located the man who ran the old Tropicana, Tito Cari nci, and is flying him from Los Angeles to the opening.

        In 1961, Mr. Carinci — a former Xavier football star and Chicago Bear — operated Newport's Tropicana.

        Mr. Carinci was arrested by Detective Pat Ciafardini following the nationally famous George Ratterman scandal.

        Mr. Ratterman, a former Notre Dame and Cleveland Browns quarterback, was running for sheriff of Campbell County vowing to clean up Newport. He was drugged,

        undressed and put in bed with stripper April Flowers.

        Journalists were invited to take photographs, which appeared in newspapers.

        Charges against Mr. Ratterman were dismissed after the frame was exposed; he was elected and was successful in cleaning up Newport.

        The grand-opening party is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at the northwest corner of Third and Saratoga streets in Newport on the Levee. Tickets are $75 per person and reservations must be made by Monday. Call (859) 491-8900.

        E-mail jhannah@enquirer.com

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