ChristmasmrssantaFARGO, N.D. (AP) – Shoppers are hitting stores throughout the Dakotas to take advantage of Black Friday deals, but some say they’ve found the scene a bit calmer than in previous years.
 
     Shawna Steen, of Maplewood, Minnesota, tells The Associated Press that Black Friday is an annual outing in Fargo for her and her sisters. But she says this year’s event was remarkably quiet, and she speculates that a lot of people did their shopping on Thursday.
 
     The day after Thanksgiving is generally considered the kickoff to the holiday shopping season. People lined up outside stores throughout the Dakotas early Friday. But many stores opened even earlier, on Thursday.
 
     At the Gordmans in Sioux Falls, Manager Jacob Rhodes told KDLT-TV that 150 people were in line at suppertime Thursday.