Kimberly Bittle
Maiden name: Kimberly Sharrar.
Residence: Houston (Clarendon, Texas native).
Birthday: Jan. 19.
Occupation: Mark Twain National Forest Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek District ranger; Houston city council alderwoman, ward 3.
Family members: Husband, Wayne Bittle; children Katlyn (15) and Max (13); parents Jim and Venita Sharrar of Mountain Home, Ark.
Education: Graduate of Clarendon High School (Texas); earned bachelor of science degree in forest management at Stephen F. Austin University (Nacogdoches, Texas).
Pets: Welsh Corgi puppy named Radar; white German Shepherd named Blanco; border collie named Gigi; tom cat named Tom; cat named Onyx.
Favorite food: Pizza. “All kinds.”
Favorite ice cream flavor: Chocolate.
Favorite forms of meat: Prime rib, ribeye steak, and pork shoulder.
Least favorite food: Cooked carrots. “I don’t mind raw carrots, but I don’t like the texture when they’re cooked.”
Favorite thing to cook: “I like to bake, like homemade rolls, cinnamon rolls and that kind of thing.”
Best place I ever ate at: “I had some of the best barbecue ever in Memphis. There was Neely’s Barbecue and The Rendezvous. I like barbecue and we barbecue and smoke meats a lot.”
My favorite activities: “I love to be outside, so it would be anything outside where I’m not in the house cleaning.”
Favorite board game: Rummikub. “It’s not really a board game, but we play it as a family when we go camping and have a blast trying to see who can get rid of their game tiles first.
My kids most always win but every now and then the parents or grandparents win a round.”
Favorite card game: Uno. “It’s fun to play and can be fast paced, and you don’t have to think too much to play it.”
Place I’d most like to visit: New Zealand. “I’d love to see the forests over there because of the different type of forest management. That’s always intrigued me.”
Favorite state (other than Missouri): Mississippi. “We lived there a while and it was pretty. It wasn’t just the Mississippi River delta; there were trees and lots of different landscapes. It had a little bit of everything.”
Favorite kind of music: Older country. Favorite actor: Paul Newman. “I like watching old movies, like ‘Cool Hand Luke.’ And he drove a cool car, too.
Favorite TV show: “I like all of the ‘Chicago’ shows, like ‘Chicago Med’ and ‘Chicago PD.’ They’re just good to watch and unwind, and let other people have the problems.”
Favorite zoo animal: Giraffe. “I remember taking the kids to the zoo when they were little and feeding the giraffes. They’re just gentle giants.”
Least favorite animal: Snakes. “They go their way and I go mine.”
Favorite sports team: Detroit Tigers (MLB). “Because that was my grandmother’s favorite team.”
Favorite flower: Gardenia. “Because of the smell; they smell like summer.”
Favorite tree: Southern yellow pine.
Favorite school subject: Dendrology. “It was fun to learn to identify trees.”
Least favorite school subject: Math. “I was never very good at it; I guess I don’t have the patience.”
A big pet peeve: People not following through on things. “If you say you’re going to do something, do it.”
Someone (other than my parents) who I was influenced by: “There was a ranger who I worked for, and he kind of steered me in the direction of management. His work ethic and what he stood for, and the way he held people accountable all made a difference for me.”
A childhood memory: “My family would load up in the summer and go camping. We’d go all over – not just in Texas – and hit lakes and some really neat places. The family time together was great.”
Just sayin’…
Regarding the direction Houston is headed: “I think it’s a good and postive direction. Yes, there are going to be a few bumps in the road, but I think overall we’re making progress, and that’s what’s important and I hope people see that. Change is good and it’s always going to happen, but I think for Houston there has been a positive change, as far as getting our business back in order.”
Regarding the state of the Mark Twain National Forest: “I see it as providing public service to people, so with regard to customer service, we’re always working with partners and trying to make things better. I think we’re moving in a positive direction by providing more recreational opportunities, and providing products and goods, like through timber sales. We’re about public service, and we’re trying to make a difference by providing the best opportunities for people to utilize the national forest.”