By Reid Forgrave
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CHEVIOT - It's a true west-side event tonight that combines love of country, help for your neighbor, plenty of beer and lots of poker.

Sgt. James C. Wright, 27, of Delhi Township, was killed in Iraq in September, leaving behind a wife and an unborn child.

Now, residents are putting on a Monte Carlo night for Wright's widow, Alina, 25, and her unborn child.

"We just really felt that our guys are overseas defending our freedoms," said Rick Niklas of Dent, who heard about Wright's death on the news and wanted to do something to help. "We just want to try to do our little part to help out any way we can."

Organizers are shooting to raise $5,000 at this evening's fund-raiser for Wright's widow.

Organizers hope to have as many as 12 poker tables with seven-card stud and Texas Hold 'Em games. They are also planning a live auction, a raffle and a split-the-pot, and will set up donation barrels.

Anyone wanting to donate to the auction - or money and baby gifts - may bring the items tonight.

Donations can also be made at any Fifth Third branch to the James Wright Memorial Fund.

If you go

What: Monte Carlo fund-raiser for Sgt. James C. Wright, a soldier from Delhi who died Sept. 18 in Iraq.

When: 6:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. today.

Where: Cheviot Fieldhouse, 3729 Robb Ave., near the Cheviot branch library.

Admission: $5; includes pop, beer and snacks. You must be 21 or older to enter.

---

E-mail rforgrave@enquirer.com