Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee … wait, that was that other Davy. This one was born on a cattle and wheat farm on the Great Plains of North Dakota. Farm-fresh common sense, work ethic and imagination forged in the fields of great grains. Like spaghetti? Thank my dad. After an Honor Society high school career in Lakota, N.D., I attended junior college on a basketball scholarship where I repeatedly demonstrated that white men indeed can’t jump. But I did manage an associate’s degree in wildlife management. From there, a semester at the University of North Dakota, where I started to pursue a background in broadcasting and a minor in goofing off, so… To further educational opportunities and real-world experience, I enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1974 and eventually became part of the first all-volunteer army. I served three years as a radio/TV information specialist with extra training in newsprint and leadership. The bulk of my tour was at Fort Lewis, Wash., and I made a note to return to the great state of Washington one day. Honorably discharged in 1977 I returned to North Dakota and Minot State University, where I received degrees in communications and psychology. While attending school I worked as a radio DJ and a TV news reporter at a local combo operation. It was there that I discovered that what was taught in classroom didn’t always square with what was going on in the real world. Good to know. From there I moved to Blacksburg, Va., and a radio/TV producer job for Virginia Tech University -- Go, Gobblers! Go, Hokies! Two years on the East Coast was enough and I headed west to the hippie enclave of Eureka, Calif., for my first TV news director/anchorman gig. Yes, I had a mustache and comparisons to Ron Burgundy would one day be appropriate … just keep them “classy.” At a news guy conference in Las Vegas I met legendary newsman T.J. Close, who was from Washington state! Here was my callback to the Evergreen State, but I wound up on the never-green side of the Cascades. T.J hired me to come to Yakima and KIMA-TV in the winter of 1982. I worked a couple of years there, then spent 10 years across town as news director/anchor at KAPP-TV. I tried my hand at TV sales and radio sales and ultimately got a morning talk show radio gig for about two years on KCHT. (K-chat. Get it? Me, neither) By then KNDO-TV, the only TV station in town I hadn’t worked for, was looking for a news director/anchorman and they came calling based on my track record of past success and the fact that I work cheap. That was a successful five-year run, but the station was sold and the new owners wanted their own people in place, so early in 2001 I was about to be out of a job when KIT’s manager called and asked me to breakfast. Best meal ever! LOTS of bacon. Sixteen years later the Morning News with Dave and Lance rolls on as Yakima’s most popular morning radio show, presenting a variety of news , sports, weather, talk and fun -- Information and good conversation wrapped in our tell-it-like-it-is kinda style. We champion our advertisers, we pull for the underdogs, we love kids, veterans, seniors, animals, America and everything else that’s good and true that list doesn’t cover. We are A.M Proud with conservative values and a love for the people of the Yakima Valley. And it sure beats working on the farm.
Dave Ettl
States That Legalize Cannabis For Adults See Minors Increase Use
One of the argument given for the ban was that introducing more marijuana into the city would result in more kids being exposed to the drug.
Keep An Eye On Sugar, Yakima’s Kids Are Getting Too Much Of It
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that children ages two to 18 should limit their added sugar consumption to less than six teaspoons (25 grams) per day, and sugary beverages should be limited to eight ounces per week.
Legendary Line-Up Good To Go – Yakima’s Fall Music Fest Pre-Party
Hop Country Music Festival is kicking off a music/party weekend that culminates on Saturday with the Cole Swindell Show, with a Pre-Funk night featuring Generation Radio.
Science Says It’s The Missing Link To A Perfect Burger
Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial kick-off to all things Summer is upon us! Including expert grilling season.
Remembering Yankee Blue – Yakima To Honor Sons Of Union Army Vets
That level of sacrifice needs to be honored and remembered and it is, by an organization called Sons Of Union Veterans Of The Civil War.
Tom Cruise New Top Gun Movie Features Washington State Scenery
Location was everything for the flight scenes, and the movie's third act was shot in Washington State....an ideal setting for critical battle scenes.
It’s Complicated But We Can Start To Better Protect Our Students
Gun owners know bad guys with guns are out there and the best way to be safe from them is to be prepared to effectively defend themselves
What Superstar Kicks Off First Ever Yakima Hop Country Music Fest
Multi-Platinum superstar Cole Swindell is bringing his brand of down-home, young country sound to Yakima.
Gardeners Are Happier So Why Not A Sustainable Wedding
Gardening and gardens play a vital role in promoting wellbeing and happiness. Throughout the pandemic, the popularity of gardening and visiting parks and open space rose dramatically as people connected with nature.
Dangerous Bird Flue Making Geese Sick Near Tri-Cities-Don’t Touch
The WDFW says this strain of influenza is highly contagious among birds and there is no treatment and little that can be done for infected birds.