Forest Preserve Watchman Accused of Having a Very Green Thumb

By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 24, 2011 4:00PM

From the "Do as I Say, Not as I Do" Department: A woman who lived in a Cook County Forest Preserve home with a discounted rent in exchange for being a watchman for fires and other criminal activity on Forest Preserve property was charged with growing marijuana near the home.

Cynthia Wojtanowski was charged with a felony count of marijuana production. A tipster turned Wojtanowski and her boyfriend, Mark P. Osmolski, and the small crop was found near their home in suburban Orland Park. Forest Preserve Supt. Arnold Randall didn't say how much pot was found, only that it "seemed like it was more than for an individual’s use."

The Forest Preserve promptly served Wojtanowski with an eviction notice and scheduled a disciplinary meeting Monday that could lead to her firing.

And now she can't go to her alleged backyard stash to calm her nerves.