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 Yakima Cowboy Country? A Rough Riding Radio Guy Wants To Know
Today is a special day in the telling of the history of the west. Not for some deadly western shoot-out, bank robbery, or cattle drive, but for a fast draw with words and a straight aim at storytelling.
Tragic Student Hazing Incident Leads to Death And New Laws For Washington
If an organization wants or needs to haze me to assure my fealty, then I question what other incorrect conclusions such a body might reach or to which they might adhere
Yakima Hops and Card Sharks Makes For A Magical Weekend In Ohio
And maybe your head spins a little because of the expensive scotch your heroes like to drink and you are more than willing to buy to thank them for including you -if only for a while- in their circle of cool.
Firebrand Brings AZ Heat to Help Yakima Man’s Push For Congress
Dr. Kelli Ward is a big deal in Republican politics in Arizona. She served three years in the state senate and has been the head of the Arizona State Republican Party since 2019.
“What Gives, No Spoons In Yakima?” Dave Finds Out The Hard Way
A Washington state law taking effect Jan. 1 will stop restaurants and other businesses from automatically including plastic utensils in to-go orders
Finding The Right Fit -Washington Celebrates School Choice Week
In Washington state, local schools, organizations, families, and individuals are planning some 279 celebrations for the Week of January 23-29.
Yakima Valley Ag Tourism Is Ripe for Growth With Help From D.C.
According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, from 2002 to 2017 agritourism-related income jumped nearly 370% to $949 million
Pump Track Bike Riding Could Come To Yakima- No Pedals-No Problem
It's called pump track riding, it looks like a lot of fun and it could be heading to Yakima.
Remains Of Grandview Pilot Shot Down in ’67 Identified At Last
At last a Grandview, Washington family can remove the name of one of their own from the list of Missing In Action.
No Vax Mandate? No Thanks. WA Rejects Offer To Help Plow Snow
Washington is short of WSDOT crews as it is, and the snow is deep and compromising safe travel so why would they turn down experienced and qualified help to clear roads?
The Spotlight Is On Yakima, What’s Your Best Air Guitar Song?
Some music tastes "mature" over time but the experts say the music you loved when you were about 15 - 18, stays with you for your life
County-Wide Payroll – How Much Is Work Worth In Yakima?
In Yakima, two industries - agriculture and health services - accounted for almost all of the 10,847 jobs added from 2010-2020.