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
Just Exactly Where Does Santa Live?
For the first time ever, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has revealed Santa's address, which is: 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888.
Yakima: Least Healthy of Washington’s Major Cities
A new report says Yakima is Washington's least healthy city, based on comparing the numbers.
Jaycee Dugard Brings Her Amazing Story Of Survival And Resilience To Yakima
Jaycee Dugard made national news when she was kidnapped by a convicted sex offender in 1991 and was finally discovered and returned to freedom 18 years later!
Rabid Bat Found In Yakima County Near Moxee
Staff from a local vet clinic delivered the bat to the Yakima Health District (YHD) who shipped it to the state virology/epidemiology lab which confirmed that the bat was infected with rabies.
Central Washington State Fair Holds Job Fair at State Fair Park
Hundreds of Yakima Valley residents make some part-time cash during the 10-day run of the fair working in maintenance, admissions, food service and security.
Milestone for a Selah Business — Free Lunch for You! [PHOTOS]
Brian Harris has plenty of reasons to be thankful -- for his auto dealership, for his life, his health and the fact that he has been recognized as one of the region's very best in the auto industry
Science Says Some Video Games Do Foster Greater Creativity In Kids
Researchers say kids who,without instruction, were given the freedom to play games like Minecraft were most creative.
Researchers say kids who,without instruction, were given the freedom to play games like Minecraft were most creative.
Yakima New Summer Bus Schedule Released
Yakima Transit has issued its new Summer 2019 Bus Book.showing City bus routes, schedules, maps, fares, and helpful information on services such as Dial-A-Ride, Vanpool, and Bikes on the Bus
Summer Is Coming — Here’s What You Need to Know About Sunscreen
Dermatologist Allison Arthur says not all sunscreens come with an expiration date, but many do, so you should check for that and write the purchase date on the bottle as a reminder.
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Rumbles Into Yakima [PHOTOS, VIDEO]
Yakima rolled out the red carpet -- quite literally -- for the 25th annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride, which stopped at the Yakima Speedway Friday.
Yakima Parents – Strong Families Classes Coming Up
The Yakima class is open to all parents, grandparents, foster parents with children of any age and encourages positive self-esteem, celebrates culture, strengthens community bonds and emphasizes communication.
Yakima Looks For Volunteers During National Volunteer Week
The Yakima City Council is seeking volunteers interested in serving on City of Yakima boards, committees, and commissions and the announcement comes during National Volunteer Week.