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• Menomonie teen claims St. Paul police beat him without cause during protest
• Pierce County Board: Looks at raises for another union labor group
• Pierce County Scoreboard
• Pierce County Scoreboard

By Wheeler News Service

St. Paul Police say they're investigating a report that officers beat a western Wisconsin teen for no reason during a GOP convention protest.

His mother said Keith Smith, 17, Menomonie, was leaving Monday's large anti-war rally when a riot-type incident started happening and he reached into his bag to find a cigarette lighter when officers told him to drop the backpack and put his hands up.

They then reportedly tackled him to the ground, kicked his shoulder hard enough to leave a boot's imprint and took him to a juvenile detention center.

Smith said he was released without getting medical attention for his upper body injuries, and he was never allowed to call his parents while detained.

The teen organized a Music for Peace festival this summer in Menomonie. He said he went to St. Paul with a Unitarian lay leader to peacefully protest the Iraq war.

Smith called himself a Zen Buddhist who promotes peace and he never did anything wrong. His family has contacted a lawyer.

Thursday, several people were arrested as officers blocked the route of an anti-war march to the convention. Their permit to march from the Capitol to the convention hall had expired.

Police said one suspect had broken a downtown store window.

By Judy Wiff, Regional Editor

Last week, Pierce County Board members heard a closed-session report on raises for another labor group.

The Community Health Association contract package-which includes pay raises and higher employee contributions for health insurance premiums-is set for approval by the board at its Tuesday, Sept. 23, meeting.

Similar contracts for Human Services Department support staff, the courthouse union and Highway Department union were approved by the board earlier this summer.

The new contract will give Health Association members two-percent raises retroactive to Jan. 1 of this year, a one-percent increase retroactive to July 1, a two-percent raise on Jan. 1, 2009, a one-percent raise on July 1, 2009, a two-percent raise on Jan. 1, 2010, and a one-percent raise on July 1, 2010.

The employee share of health insurance premiums, which is currently eight percent, will increase to nine percent Jan. 1, 2009, and to 10 percent Jan. 1, 2010.

Thursday, September 4

Girls Tennis

Ellsworth 5, Mondovi 2 (Panthers win first dual meet in three years)

Volleyball

Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran 3, Elmwood 0

Cross Country

St. Croix Central meet

Spring Valley boys and girls both place second, Elmwood boys and girls both place third out of three teams.

Friday, Sept. 6

Football

Prescott 13, Glenwood City 6; Spring Valley 15, Elmwood; River Falls 46, Ellsworth 0; Plum City 28, Boyceville 0