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
Is Washington In the Top Ten On The List of Most Sinful States
On the sin of jealousy - as demonstrated by thefts per capita - Washington came in as fourth worst
Cheers! A Toast To A WA Mask Milestone-Coming Off 3/12
Yakima County cases declined from 1,521 per 100,000 people two weeks ago to a modest 482 cases per 100,000 this week.
The Central Washington State Fair – How To Save Some Loot And Have More Fun To Boot!
This year's Fair is marked by new foods, new activities, plenty of old favorites, and...COVID protocols!
Comparing 9/11 Hijacking To 1/6 Break In? You Really Missed The Mark!
"Brave passengers and crew who were pushed to the back of the plane by hijackers decided to try to fight back to regain control of their airplane."
Want To Bum A Smoke? Not So Easy In Washington.
The report shows 12.7% of Washington adults are smokers—that's the 8th fewest in the country.
Exercise Now – Drink Beer Later? The Licensing Effect At Work!
We make world-class beverages, that in some cases, are used as "rewards".
Could This Really Be The Best Beer Job Ever?
We've talked about "the Perfect Job" a few times before....but this time we really mean it!
Did A Pro-Vaxer Really Says “Ship Them Off To Internment Camps”?
I can assure you, the "send them to camp' approach won't get you what you want ...unless what you want is to move another step closer to the next civil war.
It’s Off The Edge For Those Who Want To Help Wellness House
Wellness House "gets you". Wellness House has got your back. And now Wellness House needs you to take a leap of faith.
Two Men Come To The Rescue In An Attempted Kidnapping In Yakima!
I have to admit the idea of a kidnapping seems kind of unreal. But they happen and one almost happened last night.