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
Trick-Or-Treat-Or Not – We’re Buying Candy!
U.S. sales of Halloween candy shooting up 13% over last year—a larger jump than the usual single-digit numbers.
Apple Maggot Expert Sheds Light On Governor’s Gift
Larry Krueger knows a thing or two about apple maggots. He used to trap them, now he supervises others who do.
Labor Day Travel – Let’s Be Careful Out There
Trips to Orlando and Phoenix are up despite being areas with high COVID-19 outbreak numbers.
Do Unto Others…With A Smile!
The purpose of the event is simple and pure: To give comfort and a smile to Senior Citizens.
Finnlanders Find Cure For Hangover
In a study, nausea and headache (often associated with a hangover-or so i'm told) appeared to have been managed.
Climate Change Could Affect Beers Flavor
Researchers say that nights are getting warmer, which can throw off a plant’s circadian clock
Here’s The Lowdown On The Fall’s Yakima Fair Food Fest!
Fair food fest will be a drive through experience where we all can drive thru and order some of our favorite fair foods!
Yakima’s Irrigation Season To Begin April 1st
Wednesday, April 1st, will mark the start of the 2020 irrigation season for the vast majority of the residential and business customers.
Don’t Get Sick On Leftovers While Riding Out COVID-19
The USDA says a general rule of thumb is that if, say, that chuck roast has been in your fridge for more than four days, it’s time to chuck it.
COVID Comedy: Puyallup Police Maintain Sense of Humor
Due to local cases of COVID-19, the Puyallup Police Department is asking all criminal activities and nefarious behavior to cease.
Help Is There — Programs for Displaced Workers Available
Right now the Washington state call for unemployment checks is up 150 percent over last year at this time, and interest in the State Shared Work program is up 500 percent.
Routine Dental Visits Shut Down In Response to Coronavirus Threat
Guidance from the State Health Department is to “postpone all elective, non-essential dental procedures” until further notice.