Weekly Clips for October 2

Hyper Local Highlights

Brought to you by The Chronicle

This week’s top headlines…

Family Relief Nursery: New home in Creswell
CRESWELL – From a small classroom at Creslane Elementary School, to its own space with an office, resource room, and even a spare room, Creswell’s Family Relief Nursery just got…
2 Oct 2025
Family Relief Nursery: New home in Creswell
CRESWELL – From a small classroom at Creslane Elementary School, to its own space with an office, resource room, and even a spare room, Creswell’s Family Relief Nursery just got…
2 Oct 2025
Singing Creek finds new home at Dorris Ranch
SPRINGFIELD – Butter churning, grain grinding, sewing, puppet making, games and songs, washing clothes, gardening, herbal walks, and trading with a fur trapper are just a few of the activities…
2 Oct 2025
Singing Creek finds new home at Dorris Ranch
SPRINGFIELD – Butter churning, grain grinding, sewing, puppet making, games and songs, washing clothes, gardening, herbal walks, and trading with a fur trapper are just a few of the activities…
2 Oct 2025
Keep calm and carry yarn: ‘Stringfield’ tethering together art, community
SPRINGFIELD – According to Arminda Barnes, founding president and leader of Yarnies541, the Stringfield Yarn Collective is “the ‘Cheers’ of the yarn store.” As soon as you walk into 175…
2 Oct 2025
Keep calm and carry yarn: ‘Stringfield’ tethering together art, community
SPRINGFIELD – According to Arminda Barnes, founding president and leader of Yarnies541, the Stringfield Yarn Collective is “the ‘Cheers’ of the yarn store.” As soon as you walk into 175…
2 Oct 2025
Hotel, shops for old Springfield bank site?
SPRINGFIELD – The directors of the Springfield Economic Development Agency (SEDA) are reexamining plans for a prime piece of real estate on Main Street that has been sitting vacant for…
2 Oct 2025
Hotel, shops for old Springfield bank site?
SPRINGFIELD – The directors of the Springfield Economic Development Agency (SEDA) are reexamining plans for a prime piece of real estate on Main Street that has been sitting vacant for…
2 Oct 2025
DA: Police justified in Springfield shooting
SPRINGFIELD – District Attorney Christopher J. Parosa recently confirmed the actions of Springfield Police officers were lawful in a July 30, 2025, officer-involved shooting. His 11-page report details the incident.…
2 Oct 2025
DA: Police justified in Springfield shooting
SPRINGFIELD – District Attorney Christopher J. Parosa recently confirmed the actions of Springfield Police officers were lawful in a July 30, 2025, officer-involved shooting. His 11-page report details the incident.…
2 Oct 2025
SPD license plate readers aimed at theft prevention
SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Police Department (SPD) has installed Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras in the city as part of a proactive initiative aimed at combating retail theft. This…
2 Oct 2025
SPD license plate readers aimed at theft prevention
SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Police Department (SPD) has installed Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras in the city as part of a proactive initiative aimed at combating retail theft. This…
2 Oct 2025
‘Bobby’ Simmons, 66, passes away in Creswell
CRESWELL – Lifelong Creswell resident John Robert Simmons – simply known as Bobby to most people who knew him – died Saturday evening in Creswell. He was 66. Simmons had…
2 Oct 2025
‘Bobby’ Simmons, 66, passes away in Creswell
CRESWELL – Lifelong Creswell resident John Robert Simmons – simply known as Bobby to most people who knew him – died Saturday evening in Creswell. He was 66. Simmons had…
2 Oct 2025

In case you missed it…

Dockendorf homestead
raising unique animals

Ann Dockendorf and her husband Mike have raised alpacas since 2007.
PHOTOS BY BOB WILLIAMS / THE CHRONICLE

EUGENE – On a short drive up Dillard Road on a big farm between Creswell and Eugene, alpacas are aplenty. Ann and Mike Dockendorf have been operating their alpaca farm at 33005 Dillard Rd. since 2007.

Aragon Alpacas, complete with a classic red barn and the Dockendorf’s renovated 1800s farmhouse, has 12 wool-producing alpacas and one closely related cousin, Sunny the llama. During the farm’s peak in 2015-16, it had 52 of the fluffy animals.

The youngest on the farm is Chaco, a Suri alpaca. Dockendorf said a lot of her male alpacas are 17-18 years old. The average lifespan of the animal is 15-20 years. Her four female alpacas are all 21 years old.
Dockendorf was introduced to this lifestyle in Southern California.

“We went on a motorcycle ride to go wine tasting, and at the vineyard, they were having a regional alpaca show,” she said. “We walked around and asked a lot of questions. I didn’t know what an alpaca was. I knew llama, but I’d never heard of an alpaca before.”

The Dockendorfs knew they wanted to retire on a large acreage, and soon added alpacas to the idea. Nearly 20 years and lots of learned experiences and furry friends later, they run the farm and teach others about alpacas.

Read it here