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
Desperation And Dollars: Washington’s Depression Dance Marathons
Step back in time to the Great Depression era and learn about the endurance and determination of participants in grueling dance marathon competitions.
Where Washington Ranks: Revealing America’s Most Promising Cities
Uncover the secrets behind successful city investments and find out which cities are considered the top picks by investors in a hypothetical City Exchange scenario.
Protecting Washington’s Shrubsteppe: Saving Unique Birds & Animals
Discover Washington's ambitious plan to safeguard the precious shrubsteppe ecosystem for the iconic sage-grouse and other unique wildlife.
Which Washington County Saves The Most On Property Tax?
Uncover the laws governing property taxes in Washington state, limiting annual increases and resulting in a lower average effective tax rate compared to the national average.
Breakfast Bonanza: Best In The U.S. Revealed in Oregon
Explore the vibrant breakfast scene in the Pacific Northwest with a visit to the highly-rated Family Cafe in Beaverton, Oregon.
Gorge Deep? How Big Is Oregon Women’s Pay Gap?
Uncover the eye-opening truth about the gender pay gap in Oregon - older workers earn 80% less than younger workers!
From Bugs To Energy Saving: The Story Behind “DST”
Discover the surprising origins of Daylight Saving Time (DST) - from Benjamin Franklin's candle-saving idea to George Hudson's bug-hunting passion!
WA Bans Octopus Ranching As Cruel And Unusual
Washington legislature passes bill to ban octopus farming, citing intelligence and environmental concerns.
Conservation Controversy: WA’s Approach to Gray Wolves
Help shape the future of wolf management in Washington - have your say!
Danger Ahead! Best Ways To Keep Safe In Cougar Country
Find out what to do if you come face to face with a mountain lion while hiking or biking in cougar country.
Who’s Drinking Beer On The Bottom Of The Ocean?
Empty beer bottle found in the deepest part of the ocean raises concerns about pollution.
Get To The Chopper! Yakima’s Bighorn Sheep Aerial Roundup
Learn about the upcoming roundup of bighorn sheep in Yakima, Washington and how it helps protect their population.