Local shoppers fill stores

STEUBENVILLE - Cameras, laptops, TVs and GPS systems were at the top of the list for shoppers who braved the crowds early today.

Christmas gifts seemed to be on the minds of most shoppers, who waited for hours this Black Friday to get their hands on select items.

Veteran shopper Solina Marraro of Steubenville said she usually makes out fairly well on Black Friday deals.

"I come out every year and always end up with loads of items," she said while finding early deals at J.C. Penney at the Fort Steuben Mall. "I find a variety of items to use for Christmas gifts."

Tina Smith of Wintersville, another veteran shopper, said she enjoys the adrenaline rush she gets from being involved in the craziness. She was looking for deals at the Wal-Mart SuperCenter at the mall.

"I honestly have so much fun on Black Friday," she said. "I just love to shop and see people that I haven't seen since last year."

This year Smith was on the lookout for a camcorder, GPS system and a TV.

"In the past I have found great deals on laptops, printers, TVs and cameras," she said. "I'm hoping to find great deals this year as well."

Steubenville resident Tim McDonald was hoping his first Black Friday experience would be a success.

"I've been here since 12 a.m. and I'm waiting for an HP printer," he early today at Wal-Mart. "Maybe I'll find some other deals as well."

While most shoppers had their minds made up on their purchases, some were just out for the thrill of the whole experience.

"I just enjoy being a part of the whole Black Friday experience," said Wintersville resident Rachel Land while shopping at Sears Department Store at the mall. "I'm not really looking for anything in particular, but you never know what kind of deals you are going to find."

Watching from her car early today in the Weirton Kmart parking lot, Helene Cooper of Weirton, an experienced Black Friday shopper, said she's come to Kmart every year for 16 years. "First to Kmart, then to Wal-Mart, and then I 'hit the pike' (Robinson Township)," she noted.

Cooper was waiting for the store to open to purchase a pool table for her 7-year-old granddaughter.

Cindy Lamp of Weirton was waiting in line under the slight cover of the building.

"My husband, Richard, is waiting in the car. He won't stand in line in the rain." Lamp was there to check out the sales, but nothing in particular.

Lamp was joined by about 100 others in line.

When asked how the early morning crowd was behaving, Weirton Patrolman Jeff Miller said things had been calm.

Miller, accompanied by his K-9 partner, Timmy, was parked alongside the line to offer crowd control and support.

Two women who were first in line at the Kmart admitted that they had been standing there since 4:15 a.m. Dayna Baird and Amanda Drumm, friends from Follansbee, were "giddy and on their second wind" as described by another in line.

Denise Beatty summed up her reasoning for standing out in the cold and rain early today with an age-related comment. "I used to do this for Bon Jovi tickets, now it's for Legos."

The greeter, traffic cop and distributor of the store's 40-page "Blue Friday" flyer was Tina Ptaszek, Kmart's human resource manager.

"This is my 30th Black Friday at Kmart," she noted. "This crowd seems orderly, pleasant, almost celebratory. But, when I got up at 3 a.m., I wasn't celebrating."

Kathy Taylor of Wellsburg was the first to check out at 6:06 a.m. Taylor purchased a Snuggie among other items.

"The Snuggie is for my grandmother," she said.

(Staff writer Lynneller Winkler also contributed to this story. Looman can be contacted at jlooman@heraldstaronline.com.)