By LISA NICELY

nicely@crescent-news.com

The holiday shopping season has officially kicked off.

"This is the one day a year I don't mind shopping with the crowds," said Jeni Lampert of Defiance, who was one of the first people in line at Kohl's today.

At 3:30 a.m., a half hour before the doors opened, the line to get into Kohl's stretched around the building.

Lampert had arrived at the store at about 2:40 a.m. and waited in her car.

"As soon as one person got out to get in line we all did," she said, adding that she hoped to make a couple of purchases including a global positioning system (GPS).

Dena Shartzer of Haviland hadn't even gone to sleep on Thanksgiving night. She was at Kohl's at 3 a.m., noting she usually comes out for Black Friday sales.

"I like getting those first bargains," she said. "I like the crowd and rush."

Joyce Castell of Ayersville also said she was in line for the great bargains this year as she waited in line at Kohl's.

Women weren't the only ones in line either.

Nelson Baker of Defiance and Roger Gardner of Ayersville both were waiting for doors to open so they could get GPS units that were on sale.

Both men said they don't usually take part in the Black Friday lines and sales.

"I'm here to get the GPS, guy stuff," said Baker.

Gardner said the bargains "made us roll out early. You have to have something specific you want to do something this stupid."

A lot of shoppers said the bargains and excitement made the morning worth it.

Chelsea Wulff of Napoleon got up at 2:30 a.m. She was at JCPenney's waiting for the door to open a little before 4 a.m.

She said she was waiting to buy a couple of things, mostly gifts for others. Wulff said she normally takes part in Black Friday shopping.

Sarah Sanford and Sydney Fitzwater of Defiance sat down as they waited for the store to open. They were up all night.

"We were at Wal-Mart at 1 a.m. and then went to Burger King," said Sanford. This was her first year of shopping on Black Friday.

It was Fitzwater's second year of taking part in Black Friday bargains.

"It's exciting," she said. "People are so crazy."

At Elder-Beerman, one customer was waiting in line for one specific item.

"You can't beat this," she said, pointing to the advertisement showing a bedding set. "Originally it's $160, and today it's $19.97."

Many shoppers were after specific items.

At Meijer, customers were given a map pinpointing locations of merchandise. Individuals were given tickets for items such as a plasma TV, Blue-Ray players, Wii consoles and GPS systems to be redeemed at specific locations in the store.

Jana Wentz of Pettisville and Sara Prescott of Hicksville were waiting in line for Wii consoles at Meijer.

Prescott had been at the store since about 4 a.m., and tickets for the Wii consoles were not given out until 5 a.m.

"I like the deals, not the crowd," said Prescott of shopping the day after Thanksgiving.

Wentz said she really likes the excitement of Black Friday.

Some shoppers come up with a game plan to ensure they get the merchandise they want.

"We go around and get all the sales stuff, then sit for the ticket items," said Mark Newman of Defiance, who was shopping with his daughter, Michelle Schmunk.

They were in line for a Blue-Ray player.

"It's me and dad these last few years," said Schmunk of shopping on Black Friday. "It's our tradition."

Newman said he likes shopping on Black Friday.

"I think it's the excitement and you get to meet new people," he reasoned. "It's a pastime almost."

Friends Jenna Liber of Youngstown and Britni Hagelberger of Bryan were also shopping together. They arrived at Meijer around midnight to buy the digital picture frames that were one sale.

"This is an adrenaline rush," said Hagelberger of the Black Friday shopping madness. After Meijer, the two planned on hitting a few more stores in town before heading home.

Store employees were keeping busy this morning.

"They are going just fine," Meijer manager Chris Arvay said of early-morning shoppers, who added the store was extremely busy.

A representative of JCPenney reported the store is about as busy as it was last year.

Sears store manager Andrew Shepherd said they have a bit more shoppers this year than last. Many shoppers grabbed up LCD and plasma televisions along with tools.

"We've been extremely busy," he said. "People have been coming in looking for the bargain. Right now it's been extremely positive. It's extremely steady and a nonstop line."