Currituck Sheriff Susan Johnson, commanding a search with dozens of emergency workers, was fully caffeinated after a virtually sleepless night – though without her beloved coffee sweetener. To know the sheriff is to realize the Sweet’N Low is imperative. That was clearly the last thing on her mind today. They are searching for this boater almost as though he were family. Where the Coast Guard gave up, crews from all over the state and Norfolk were combing through muck, shivering in wetsuits and sacrificing lunch breaks. Finding Martins may be a long-shot, but there’s no talk of quitting.

We wanted to see the search in progress out on the open water, but it’s a 12-minute boat ride. I brought the sheriff some Sweet’N Low packets from Subway, and the next thing I knew our photographer and I were on a boat. Truth be told, I know Sheriff Johnson would have given us a lift to the scene without them. She’s proud of her agency’s unyielding efforts, which we were able to showcase. But let's just say it, that Sweet'N Low didn't hurt.