Ohio authorities caution fans

IU fans traveling to Columbus, Ohio, for this weekend's College Cup are advised to proceed with caution due to recent shootings off Interstate 270. \nA total of 15 cases, including one fatality, have been reported, and all are believed to be related, according to Columbus authorities. \nThe NCAA and the Franklin County Sheriff's Department are working together to ensure safety for the teams and their fans.\n"Basically, we had a conference call with all four teams where we had a person from the County Sheriff's Department to fill everybody in on what has been going on and to answer any questions the schools would have," said Mark Bedics, media coordinator for the Division I Soccer Championship. "All the shootings have been occurring around (Interstate) 270, and none of the schools or even the fans coming in will have to go anywhere near there."\nFans traveling from Bloomington can avoid I-270 and remain on Interstate 70 straight into Columbus en route to Columbus Crew Stadium. \nBut even on I-70, Columbus authorities caution drivers to proceed more cautiously than normal and to look out for any unusual occurrences along the highway.\n"We just want them (travelers) to kind of look around and keep their eyes open," said Charles McCoy of the Columbus Police Department. "I drive it twice a day, but I would just recommend people to be more alert."\nKickoff for IU's semifinal match against Santa Clara is set for 7:30 p.m. tonight. \nBrent LaLonde, spokesman for the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, believes, since all the occurrences have been isolated to a five-mile stretch, no fans should be deterred from attending this weekend's College Cup. \n"If you travel in on I-70 from the west, you should not notice anything," LaLonde said. "We are just trying to do the best we can to let folks know of what's happening so they are aware, but as long as it's contained in one area, there is really nothing to be concerned of."\nEven fans flying into Port Columbus International Airport are not required to use the five mile stretch of I-270, an interstate compared by the Columbus Travel Center to Indiana's I-465 circling Indianapolis. \nAs of now, AAA has not issued any type of travel advisory into Columbus. \n"Right now, we are confident in telling people to come over here," LaLonde said. "It is good to be aware, as the more you know the more confident you would be. The shootings are a concern but are no means a reason to avoid coming to Columbus."\n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Cohen at djcohen@indiana.edu.