ACCLAIMED TEACHER ARRESTED ON MARIJUANA CHARGES

Dallas Morning News 10-13-95

Slidell, La.-- A former teacher of the year in St. Tammany Parish and her husband were arrested Thursday after deputies found 10 marijuana plants growing in their home. Laurie Wilder Maschek, 32, a fifth-grade teacher at Abney Elementary School, and James Maschek, 34, face charges of marijuana cultivation and possession with intent to distribute. Deputies said that the plants, which were about 7-8 feet tall, were growing in specially treated soil in individual plastic containers inside a room with a 1,000-watt light bulb used to provide maximum growing conditioins. Mrs. Maschek's plaque for being 1992 parish teacher of the year was hanging behind the plants.