Police in Spalding County have arrested a suspect in the kidnapping and death of a 9-year old Griffin girl. Authorities say the have in their custody 40-year old Shane Clifton Collett.  Police say the body of Skylar Dials was found early Saturday morning in a wooded area just a day after she went missing from her home where she lived with her aunt. Collett, who lives in Dials' neighborhood, has been charged with murder, kidnapping and concealing a death. Authorities have yet to release the cause of death.  Anyone with information about the case is asked to call police at 770-467-4282.

Marijuana plants may have been the cause of an apartment fire that displaced several families just a few days before Christmas. Authorities say a fire broke out early Sunday morning at the Victory Group Apartments on Peachtree Place in midtown. Police say a space heater was being used to grow marijuana inside of one of the apartments.  The Red Cross is assisting the eight adults and two children who were displaced by the fire. No arrests have been made. The investigation continues.

A charity in Atlanta warns of a scam this holiday season. Officials with the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta say beware of a woman calling and saying she works for the organization.  The woman who calls herself, Jennifer, says the Furniture Bank is giving away $14,000 to 14 needy families and asks for a donation. Officials say the woman also asks for social security numbers and bank account numbers; which is something they would never do. Anyone who has received one of these calls is asked to call the Furniture Bank at 404-355-8530.

If you plan on hitting the stores for last minute deals remember you may find deep discounts but most retailers close early today:

Target-closes at 9pm

Best Buy-closes at 5pm

Macy's-close at 6pm

Toy-R-Us and Babies-R-Us -close at 6pm (some stores close at 10pm)

Wal-Mart-closes at 8pm


Santa is on his way! That's the word from NORAD, the command responsible for protecting the skies over both the United States and Canada. NORAD has volunteers manning the phones today to answer any concerns children may have about Santa arriving at their homes before Christmas morning.  The phone number is 877-HI-NORAD. It's the 57th year NORAD is tracking Santa.


Merriam-Webster says thanks to the 2012 election the most looked up words this year are socialism and capitalism. Officials for the online dictionary say the increase in traffic of the unlikely pair of words is in part to the debate on health care and the discussion over "American capitalism" versus "European socialism." Last year's word of the year was austerity.