Out of the past 9/29/04

10 years ago: Sept. 29, 1994

British Broadcasting Corp. television crew is in Cape Girardeau filming 30-minute documentary about flying squirrels; Southeast Missouri State University is one of five universities in nation researching flying squirrels.

Cape Girardeau's public schools provide asset to community's business recruiting efforts, says Expansion Management magazine; periodical rated 600 school districts nationwide, placing Cape Girardeau fifth among Missouri schools.

25 years ago: Sept. 29, 1979

A $5,000 reward is being offered by Cape Girardeau Police Department for information in homicide death of 24-year-old plant store owner Deborah Martin, who was slain at her store two weeks ago; her father, Dr. A.D. Martin, authorized department to offer reward.

RUSSELVILLE, Ark. -- Southeast Missouri State University Indians hold on through two time-consuming drives in second half for 31-23 football victory over Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys; win is Tribe's first victory of season.

50 years ago: Sept. 29, 1950

Campaign has been launched at Oak Ridge and elsewhere in county for $15,000 as part of cost for possible construction of shoe factory in Oak Ridge; Jay-Allen-Ward Shoe Co. Inc., which operates plant at Advance, is seeking to expand its operations.

Annual invasion of Cape Girardeau by blackbirds has started, with early arrivals making their way to roost they have occupied for past three years in Home of the Birds, wooded area behind State College campus; that designation predates arrival of blackbirds by many years.

75 years ago: Sept. 29, 1929

The Rev. Alphon Mendenhall, pastor of First Christian Church since January 1928, preaches his farewell sermons in morning and evening to local congregation; he leaves tomorrow for Aurora, Mo., where he has accepted his former pastorate in First Christian Church of that place.

Mark Nicholas, 50, of Illmo, night watchman for W.P. McGeorge Construction Co., contractor building new Missouri Pacific Railroad into Cape Girar-deau, is instantly killed on Frisco Railroad trestle over Cape LaCroix Creek in south Cape Girardeau by southbound Gulf line passenger train.

-- Sharon K. Sanders