Superman to be celebrated in flood-damaged town

METROPOLIS, Ill. — The return of the annual Superman Celebration is a signal to flood-damaged Metropolis that conditions are returning to normal.

Metropolis tourism director Angie Shelton says the past few months in the Massac County town has been challenging. Flooding earlier this year took an economic tool on the town. High water forced the closing of Harrah's casino for more than a month. Mayor Billy McDaniel estimates the town lost $18,000 per day because of that.

But good times are returning and the city is ready to welcome people from all over the world.

About 30,000 people are expected at the four-day Superman Celebration, which begins Thursday at the town's Superman statue. Expected to attend is Brandon Routh, who played the Man of Steel in the 2006 movie Superman Returns.