Essentially a warm variation on eggnog, this cocktail becomes irresistible on chilly holiday nights

A selection of the Beacon's best imagery from the past year

From the consequences of mass firings of public land managers to trade war tensions with Canada and the Flathead’s hidden immigrant communities, here are a few of our best stories from the last year

United Airlines added several seasonal direct flights to Kalispell to accommodate winter tourism as Whitefish Mountain Resort staff prepares for big crowds through the New Year

Environmental groups had argued in their unsuccessful motion for a preliminary injunction that letting hunters, trappers and wildlife managers kill up to 558 wolves would do long-term harm to their viability in Montana

When a rock-blasting operation on a luxury lakeshore home triggered a landslide last year, it became the poster child for regulatory dysfunction on Whitefish Lake. But even as the custom builders responsible for the landslide say they have repaired the damage, which didn't warrant enforcement action, neighbors and citizens' groups argue the lack of local oversight begs the question: Who's in charge of Whitefish Lake?

The school will begin the search for a new coach after the holiday break, aiming to present a candidate recommendation to the Board of Trustees by February

The ski area will open Wednesday with limited terrain and hours, with chairlifts spinning from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 24 and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Day

The driver of a Chevy Silverado on Dec. 20 fled the scene of the fatal accident, which Montana Highway Patrol troopers estimate occurred several hours before it was reported

State officials and plaintiff groups disagree about the status of the accounts through the rest of the school year

As Whitefish enters the final stretch of a state-mandated overhaul of its 2007 growth policy, long-simmering tensions have spilled out. While city leaders acknowledge the community's frustrations with the process — as well as the difficulty of the commission's task — they remain optimistic about the end result.

An updated Whitefish property near downtown; A Columbia Falls residence tucked in a wooded subdivision; and a new custom home in Lakeside

The 125th Brawl of the Wild was the first time MSU and UM met in the postseason, and the first time since 1913 the rivals faced off twice in the same season

Local school district leaders said the statewide test, which was used for the first time last year, has issues that still need to be worked out. Many cautioned against using it as the sole indicator of their schools’ success.

The footage shows the Whitefish Police Department’s interaction with Beker Rengifo del Castillo, in which he is pulled over for a broken taillight before the officer involved in the traffic stop calls in Border Patrol to “check him.” Rengifo del Castillo is suing the city of Whitefish, the Whitefish police chief and the officer for racial profiling.