HIT: Forgive our indulgence this morning, but The Citizen is proud to be part of what will soon become the fourth largest newspaper chain.

Lee Enterprises, which owns The Citizen, announced Sunday it had purchased Pulitzer Newspapers, which owns 14 newspapers including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. With its acquisition, Lee will own 58 daily newspapers in 23 states, with over 10,000 employees.

What does this mean for The Citizen?

Well, very little on the outside. Lee Enterprises allows each of its newspapers to make independent news and editorial decisions, and expects its properties to be leaders within the community. Internally, however, this will further enhance the parent company's standing in the market, will provide more opportunities for its employees, and will afford The Citizen with greater potential resources.

MISS: To the 658 people who were listed in Sunday's edition of The Citizen, who still owe the city for five or more parking tickets. The city of Auburn is owed $170,000 for more than 11,000 parking tickets that have been handed out in the last 18 years. And while the city has been able to reduce the number of outstanding fines by $110,000 in the last year, neither the city nor the police department have the resources to continue tracking down scofflaws. So the city will be hiring a collection agency in an attempt to recover these fees.

HIT: To The 2005 Citizen Masters bowling tournament champions.

Bill Kuszaj, 58, was the oldest qualifier in the field, and also the best. Kuszaj edged out the youngest bowler, 24-year-old Cory Slater, in the men's championship match. Kuszaj was proof that not only are you never too old, but that patience pays off: This was Kuszaj's first Masters victory after qualifying 16 times before.

Sharon Shoemaker followed up on the single best game of the tournament - a perfect 300 on Saturday - with a victory Sunday over Sandy Vertz to win the women's divisions. It was her third Masters title.